Brazil: Persistent heavy rains impact producers in Rio Grande do Sul

Persistent heavy rains have impacted Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul and now Emater has enumerated the losses thus far. Approximately 198 municipalities were impacted by extreme weather and 115 declared a state of emergency. There were 3,220 different localities impacted by adverse weather which included 72,300 producers. The principal crops impacted were wheat, soybeans, corn, silage corn, and rice. Approximately 83,500 hectares of soybeans were reported lost by 4,006 farmers and 67,400 hectares of corn was reported lost by 10,302 producers. Other crops impacted were oats, barley, canola, dry beans, silage corn. A total of 19,700 grain producers reported losses. There were also livestock losses as well. Approximately 290 producers reported losses of beef cows, dairy cows, hogs, poultry, and fish. In relation to the infrastructure of the state, 37,640 kilometers of roads were impacted, 430 water plants were contaminated and 8,400 families lost access to clean ...