Argentina: Losses in flooded fields after severe storms cannot yet be measured

The beginning of autumn was not only severe for Brazil. The end of summer and the beginning of the new season were also felt strongly in Argentina, with storms, winds, extremely high temperatures and stormy weather, leaving a trail of devastation in Argentina's main producing provinces. But the situation is not widespread.

And in the same province – Santa Fe, one of the country's main agricultural producers – there are two completely different facts, equally interesting. According to information from the local newspaper La Nacion, record rainfall amounting to 400 mm in three days was recorded in the south and center of the province, while the northern regions have not seen a single drop of rain for six to eight months, according to information. On the weather of the area.

“The sentiment expressed by producers in this latter region is that they are again feeling the same way as they did a few years ago, when La Niña dried up fields, rivers, lakes and ponds, forcing them to ‘look for fields further south,’ where the animals could get On some grass and water,” a report in the post reads.

According to Jorge Mercao, in an interview with La Nacion newspaper, “it has not rained since January,” in the 9 de Julio district. “Only a small amount of rain was recorded, ranging from 5 to 10 mm, which does not solve anything if we take into account the last three years of severe drought,” he says. “Not much can change in the short term. So, without rain, it is a bad scenario, very ugly for the farmer.”

Quite adverse conditions are already further depleting the productive potential of Argentina's major crops right now, including soybeans, corn, sorghum and sunflowers, in addition to impacting livestock farming. Since the beginning of this week, reports have been very serious due to heavy rains and flooding, as shown in the photos below.

“Literally, a swimming pool: the fields and rural roads have become a pool full of water,” says Soledad Aramendi, president of the Rosario Rural Association. “What we are seeing is chaos. The situation is dangerous.” Also speaking to La Nacion, Soledad explains that only when the waters start to recede will it be possible to effectively measure losses on the field, as more days of rain are expected towards the end of this week.

“It's unfortunate what's happening. Until the water runs out, you don't know what's there: whether everything has rotted or what condition the crops will be in. We are about to harvest, but now we have to at least wait.” 20 days for the machines to arrive, and this complicates everything, not only the delay, but the harvest will not be perfect, and productivity will be lost in the affected areas, we don't know if it will be 5% or 15% less, especially when you have all the soybeans, for example Underwater for whole days.

Videos captured in the early hours of Thursday showed intense records of wind gusts, giant hailstones and damage to buildings.