EN 
PT_BR 
The area of rice The projected irrigated rice area for Rio Grande do Sul in the 2026/2027 crop season is 861,778.88 hectares. According to data released by the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), the planting intention was presented this Monday (August 31st), Rice Day, during the 49th Expointer 2026, in Esteio (RS). The survey also indicates a planting intention of 431,013.93 hectares of soy in lowland areas, reinforcing the adoption of crop rotation in areas traditionally used for irrigated rice.
In the 2025/2026 harvest, the area planted with irrigated rice in Rio Grande do Sul reached 891,908.5 hectares. According to data released by Irga, the projection for the new cycle represents a reduction of 3.41 TP4T. The intention to sow soybeans in lowland areas also shows a decrease. According to the survey released by Irga, the projected area is 1.31 TP4T smaller than that recorded in the previous harvest. Despite the reduction, soybeans maintain a significant presence in traditional irrigated rice areas and are part of the production planning of farms in Rio Grande do Sul.
The survey presented by Irga highlights the consolidation of soybean cultivation in lowland areas as a component of the production system. Rotation with irrigated rice is associated with improvements in soil structure, biological nitrogen fixation, and support for phytosanitary management.
According to data released by Irga, the more than 430,000 hectares projected for soybeans demonstrate the scale of adoption of this strategy by producers in Rio Grande do Sul. The integration between the two crops also reflects the search for greater efficiency in the use of lowland areas, combining productivity, profitability, and sustainable management.
The planting intention for the 2026/2027 crop season was calculated from a collection network distributed across the regional offices of Irga (Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute). According to data released by the institute, each surveyed municipality has at least 65% (44-ton plots) of sampled cultivated area, ensuring representativeness of the results. During the monitoring of crop establishment, the offices expand the collection coverage. The sample then exceeds 80% of the area actually sown.
During the Expointer 2026 program, Irga also launched the 2027 State Field Day. The event is scheduled for January 28, 2027, at the Irga Experimental Station in Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul. The announcement of the planting intentions marks the beginning of the new irrigated rice production cycle in the state and also presents the progress of integration with soybeans in lowland areas.
