Rio Grande do Sul, a major crop producer and agribusiness zone in Brazil, has been hard hit by unprecedented flooding. Record rainfall has affected more than 90 percent of the state, an area comparable to the United Kingdom.
The University of Illinois’ Farmdoc Daily says floods and landslides have destroyed food-storage facilities, disrupted harvests, and damaged soils. The National Confederation of Municipalities estimates losses exceeding $600 million in the agricultural and livestock sectors of Rio Grande do Sul. The State Ag Department reports at least 48,000 producers and approximately eight million acres were affected by the May flooding, which began as the summer crop season was ending.
Another report says 144 storage facilities were directly affected in Rio Grande do Sul, impacting more than 1.1 million tons of grain. Flooding has led to an estimated loss of 2.71 million tons of soybeans, an equivalent to 100 million bushels.