BRAZIL FLOODS LIKELY TO AFFECT FUTURE CROP SEASONS
Bloomberg’s Clarice Couto reported Wednesday that “catastrophic floods in Brazil will have long-lasting impacts for agriculture, with soaked soils making it harder for farmers to plant crops including rice and wheat for next season.” “Growers in the Rio Grande do Sul will likely be forced to shift away from their traditional crops and into new cultures, according to Silvia Massruhá, head of agricultural research agency Embrapa,” Couto reported.
“’ There will be a need for rearranging agriculture and feedstock activities in that region,’ Massruhá said in an interview this week,” according to Couto’s reporting. “‘The soil has soaked up a lot of water, so we don’t know what share of rice or wheat farmers will be able to plant the next crop or if they will need to plant something else before until the soil recovers.’” ABC News’ Leah Sarnoff reported Tuesday that “persistent rains and destructive flooding continue to wreak havoc in Brazil, with officials saying rising river levels signal further damage in the Rio Grande do Sul region.” In total, local agencies say 2.1 million people have been directly affected by the ongoing climate crisis in Rio Grande do Sul.
Couto reported that “about 1 million metric tons of soybeans may have been lost in Rio Grande do Sul”. Brokerage StoneX Group Inc. said the impact could be three times bigger. Carlos Cogo, an independent agricultural adviser, said tractor and truck losses will also prevent farmers from planting wheat as previously planned. That would mean an even bigger loss than the 4.3% decline to almost 4.2 million metric tons supply agency Conab on Tuesday forecast for the 2024–2025 season. Soybean processor Bianchini SA’s facility in Canoas has been flooded, putting at risk almost 100,000 tons of oilseed in storage. The company also suspended production at the plant. Cargill Inc. resumed soybean crushing at its Cachoeira do Sul facility after two days of interruptions.
(Link: SuccessfulFarming)
