Adverse weather devastates agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul

Between April 29th and May 5th, Rio Grande do Sul faced a period of bad weather that resulted in serious losses for the agricultural sector. According to Emater-RS, excessive rains not only interrupted the harvest of important crops but also caused extensive flooding, especially affecting second-crop soybean, rice and bean plantations.

The situation was particularly dramatic for farmers who saw their mature crops compromised by grain quality after days of waterlogging. Furthermore, in areas with steep slopes, erosion was present, creating furrows and highlighting inadequate soil and water management.

The entity's report also highlights the destruction of roads, bridges and bridges, a factor that worsens the logistics of transporting agricultural production. Flooding and destruction of production structures such as horticultural greenhouses, stables, milking parlors, silos and grain warehouses were widely recorded.

Situation of the main crops

• Soy: Before the start of the intense rains, 76% of soybean areas had productivity considered satisfactory. However, the remaining areas now face losses that could reach 100%.

• Corn: it also suffered from the rains, with regions such as Lajeado and Caxias do Sul recording total losses in some crops. The harvesting process was severely hampered, being prioritized only in a few opportunities.

• 2nd Harvest Beans: was equally impacted, with significant losses in productivity due to the high volume of rain during its maturation stage.

• Rice: Cultivated predominantly in floodplain areas, it faced major challenges in the continuity of the harvest due to continuous rains, affecting the drying of the grains and resulting in losses in quality and yield.