On June 20, 2024, the coldest season of the year officially began in Brazil. And although coffee growers are working at the most eagerly awaited moment of the year, with their attentions focused on the harvest and the beverage quality processes, they have an extra challenge: taking care of the crops in the midst of dry weather and low temperatures. But what are the challenges that come with winter? <\/p>\n\n
Although the dry weather helps the harvest, the cold and the risk of frost bring new concerns. In Brazil, the frost that occurred in June 2021 left a mark in the history of coffee, which is also why the arrival of winter has producers looking for more solutions and hoping that the cold will be less intense. So how can coffee growers prepare? <\/p>\n\n
During the winter, coffee enters a period of \u201cdormancy\u201d, which is essential for the plant\u2019s recovery and preparation for the next growth cycles. This period is crucial for the overall health of the coffee tree, as it allows the plant to recover its energy and prepare for the next growing season. Dormancy is marked by a slowdown in the plant\u2019s metabolism and a decrease in vegetative activity, creating a resting phase until the rains return in September, when the plant regains its vigor. <\/p>\n\n
Organized management and harvest planning during the dormant period is essential for minimizing crop stress and protecting the plantations. The aim is not only to guarantee a high-quality current crop, but also to ensure that the plants are in good condition for the next production year. <\/p>\n\n
This management includes adjusting pruning and cleaning practices, carefully selecting ripe beans and ensuring delicate management to avoid damaging the plants and guarantee the quality of the beans. In addition, soil maintenance is essential to optimize nutrient absorption and moisture retention. And there is also the implementation of the necessary pesticide and fertilizer applications strategically, according to the plant\u2019s specific needs during the winter. <\/p>\n\n
After the harvest, it is essential that the producer implements the correct treatments to prevent disease. This often involves the use of products such as fungicides and copper or a combination of them. For areas that are not being harvested, such as those that have been pruned, the focus is on preventing fungal and bacterial diseases. During the winter, it is crucial to keep an eye out for problems such as Phoma and Anthracnose, which can attack the plants. <\/p>\n\n
Phoma is a problem already known to the Brazilian coffee grower, who can identify the problem by seeing the leaves, beans and branches of the coffee plant. Lower temperatures of up to 20\u00baC favor the incidence of the disease, which is why care during the winter period is crucial. <\/p>\n\n
In the case of Anthracnose, coffee growers also need to be very vigilant as the problem can often appear silently. Like Phoma, the disease also establishes itself on the leaves, branches, beans and foliage of the coffee plant. The disease leads to a change in the leaves\u2019 coloration, compromises the entire interior of the bean and, during the flowering season, causes the flowers to abort. <\/p>\n\n
In a coffee-growing country like Brazil, the best advice is to carry out a technical assessment with a trusted professional to find out which treatment is most suitable for each region.<\/p>\n\n
But it\u2019s not just the farm work that\u2019s a concern. The weather is a major challenge. The cold and the possibility of frost often keeps producers awake. And with the possible return of the La Ni\u00f1a phenomenon, the sector is even more aware of the possible impacts. <\/p>\n\n
Since the beginning of 2024, the production sector has been monitoring the possibility of the return of La Ni\u00f1a, which has the classic characteristic of favoring lower temperatures, reduced rainfall in the south and increased precipitation in the north of Brazil.<\/p>\n\n
The most recent forecast from the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released in June, indicates a 65% chance of La Ni\u00f1a developing between July and September. This means that producers need to be more <\/p>\n\n