Brazil Continues to Be the Main Destination for Paraguayan Wheat
Lack of water in the Paraná River in Brazil, is harming agriculture in Argentina, affecting navigation and the transportation of grains, mainly soybeans and corn, which depend on the river for export. The low water level in the river is hindering the movement of vessels and increasing logistics costs, compromising the competitiveness of Argentine products on the international market. “The rainfall recorded on the Alto Paraná region, in Brazil, continues to be insufficient to reverse the water deficit”, according to the National Water Institute. (INA)
Polar winds could intensify the drought, worsening conditions for wheat and corn crops. The cold air is expected to move across the region, further reducing the moisture needed for crop growth. (Buenos Aires Grain Exchange)
Argentine Rural Confederation warns of the growing threat of invasive exotic species in the countryside, such as wild boars, wild pigs and deer. These species do not have natural predators in the country, and are therefore seriously affecting productive areas, even causing health risks for animal production. (CRA)
Beans planted area fell from 1.5 million to 861 thousand hectares, a reduction of 45.5% in 47 years, between the 1976/77 to 2023/24 seasons. However, production increased, as in the same period, yield increased by 85%, from 591 kg/ha to 1,094 kg/ha, due to the use of technology in the farms, such as drip irrigation. From 1974 to 2021, production increased by 30%. “With fertigation, we were able to supply nutrients directly to the plant’s root, taking advantage of around 90% of the water used and optimizing the use of fertilizers. This has been essential to improve bean yields, especially in areas where cultivated land is decreasing”, said Warren Pires, agronomic specialist at Netafim. (Conab; Embrapa; Netafim)
Congressman, Tião Medeiros, proposed a new Bill to prevent the Brazilian government from signing bilateral or multilateral agreements that impose restrictions on the trade of Brazilian products based on environmental clauses. The measure aims to protect agribusiness against trade barriers that may be imposed by international blocs, ensuring that the national agricultural sector is not harmed by environmental requirements in trade agreements. (Chamber of Deputies)
Brazilian National Supply Company has doubled investments in storage from 2022 to 2024, from US$ 1.29 million to US$ 2.58 million, aiming to modernize and enlarge its silos and warehouses. The measure seeks to strengthen the storage system and improve warehouse management. “We spent many years without investing adequately in our storage equipment. Now, we need to improve and integrate the management of our network, as well as recover and update it in the face of the new challenges posed by the Supply Policy established by the Federal Government”, said Arnoldo de Campos, Director of Operations and Supply at Conab. (Conab)
Soybean farmers in the State of Mato Grosso are facing difficulties due to the lack of maintenance and poor conditions of the electrical grid, directly affecting production. Frequent power outages affect irrigation and storage, compromising the quality and yields of crops. The problem is more critical on farms where the electrical infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of agribusiness. (Aprosoja-MT)
Approved eight projects in the State of Espírito Santo, securing US$ 593.36 thousand for the development of research that will help strengthen the State’s coffee farming. “These projects strengthen research in priority areas, directly impacting yields, as well as the quality and sustainability of Espírito Santo’s coffee farming. This will generate knowledge and technologies focused on improving the economic viability, social well-being and environmental protection of farms”, said Antonio Elias da Silva, general director of the Espírito Santo Institute of Research, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension. (Incaper)
BNDES has announced the release of US$ 385.39 million for credit operations as a complement to the Plano Safra 2024/25 (Brazilian Government’s agricultural credit plan). With this additional amount, the total resources available reach U$ 1.96 billion and the deadline for contracting is June of 2025. (BNDES)
The Agricultural and Livestock Service – SAG of Biobío urges beekeepers (honey producers, pollinators, live material for apitherapy, wax production, etc.) to do the registration and declare their hives using the Beekeeper Registration and Beekeeper Declaration Form by October 30th. “It is important for beekeepers to register, as it allows us to obtain relevant information in the event of sanitary emergencies that may affect the beekeeping sector in order to adopt measures more efficiently. This procedure is free of charge”, said Roberto Ferrada, regional director of SAG in Biobío. (SAG)
With support and funding from FAO, the Institute of Agricultural Research has launched a project to encourage the production and consumption of legumes in Chile. Entitled “Identification and reintroduction of genetic resources of drought and disease tolerant legumes for food security and adaptation to climate change in smallholder farming in Chile’s countryside”, the project will last four years. It seeks to revitalize the cultivation of beans, lentils and peas in the dry areas of the Ñuble and Biobío regions. (INIA)
Colombia has officially joined the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which involves more than 150 countries. This agreement facilitates the exchange of seeds and genetic material between member countries, promoting the conservation of biodiversity and the improvement of agricultural crops. (Minagricultura)
The new government has announced an agricultural plan focused on increasing bean and corn production. The goal is to improve farmers’ incomes and increase the efficiency of agricultural practices. Among the proposed measures are strengthening agricultural cooperatives and providing access to more favorable credit, aiming to revitalize the agricultural sector. (Government of Mexico)
Wheat exports from the 2023 harvest, whose shipping period runs from October 2023 to September 2024, recorded a volume of 378,239 tonnes, an increase of 177,236 tonnes when compared to the 2022 season, when 201,003 tonnes were shipped. This increase is due to better production in 2023. Brazil continues to be the main destination for Paraguayan wheat, with 91% of total exports. (Capeco)
The fresh produce sector had a 70% volatility in 2023, with commodities such as mangoes, showing nearly 150% volatility at the point of shipment. In addition, over 10 commodities experienced more than 90% annual volatility, emphasizing the sector’s difficulty in achieving price stability. “The main concern is price volatility, especially for stakeholders across the supply chain”, said Patrick McCullough, CEO of ProducePay. (ProducePay)
From January to August of 2024, Peru’s agricultural exports totaled US$ 6.75 billion, an increase of 17.8% compared to the previous year. The traditional agricultural products sector grew by 55.9%, mainly driven by coffee and sugar exports. Non-traditional agro-industrial exports totaled US$ 6.12 billion (+15%), with highlights for avocados, blueberries and fresh grapes. The main destinations were the USA, the Netherlands and Spain, and the agricultural trade balance registered a surplus of US$ 2.6 billion. (Midagri)
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