Brazil

Floods Destroy Crops and Isolate Towns in Southern Brazil
Associated Press, September 16, 2000

Heavy rains lashed a rural region in southern Brazil for the third day Saturday, isolating hundreds of people and destroying crops. Rain-swollen rivers destroyed four major bridges in the state of Santa Catarina, and firefighters used makeshift wooden bridges to bring food and fuel to 600 families in 12 towns surrounded by floodwaters, said Martinho Silva, Santa Catarina Civil Defense spokesman. Farmers reported that 40 percent of their tobacco, bean and corn crops had been destroyed by the floodwaters that inundated fields in the western half of the state, Silva said.

Brazil Sugar Exports Seen Halving in 2000/01-UNICA
Reuters, July 31, 2000

Brazil's sugar exports could tumble to 5.5 million tonnes from the 2000/01 cane harvest, half the amount shipped in 1999/2000, the Sao Paulo Cane Agroindustry Union (Unica) said in a report on Monday. The center-south, which produces close to 90 percent of Brazil's cane, was likely to see its 2000/01 sugar output fall to 11.70 million tonnes from a previous 16.89 million tonnes.

Brazil Govt Sees 2001.02 Coffee Crop Off Sharply
Reuters, July 27, 2000

Brazil's 2001/02 (July/June) coffee crop may reach no more than 25.9 million 60-kg bags, sharply down from its potential, after drought and frost damaged vulnerable trees, the government said Thursday. The figures are a preliminary evaluation for the forthcoming coffee crop, the world's largest, based on a potential production of 35 million bags - first reduced by debilitating drought and then by frosts in key growing areas. Minas Gerais, the state which accounts for close to half of Brazil's coffee production, had a 2000/01 potential of 18.0 million bags, but the combined weather losses of 5.5 million bags had cut its expected output to 12.5 million bags.

Frost Causes Big Coffee Losses in Brazil’s Parana
Reuters, July 18, 2000

Recent frosts in Brazil's state of Parana could destroy the forthcoming 2001/02 (July/June) coffee crop by up to 90 percent and the current crop by 20 percent, the Agriculture Ministry said Tuesday. Estimating the 2001/02 crop in Parana at 2.6 million 60-kg bags, the ministry said the ground frost which struck at dawn Monday “extended the losses in coffee plantations of the next crop...which could have a fall of 80 to 90 percent.” “The low temperatures are also harming the production which is currently being harvested. The cold will reduce this year's crop, estimated at 2.2 million bags, between 15 and 20 percent in that state (Parana). Apart from that, it will damage the quality of the coffee,” the ministry said in a statement.

Possible Massive Frost Damage to Part of Parana’s Wheat Crop
World Wide Ag Network, July 17, 2000

Reports out of Brazil indicate that there may be some major damage to the wheat crop in the state of Parana after extremely cold temperatures struck over the past week. Temps were recorded as low as 21 degrees (F) in the western and midwestern sections of Parana. The Parana Ag Department admits that there will be losses. Agronomists estimate that approximately 40% of the regions wheat was in the flowering stage when the cold snap hit. Some speculate that the damage could run as high as 60% in the region.

Brazil Sugar Crop at Risk
Reuters, June 12, 2000

Drought in the world's biggest sugar producer Brazil, if prolonged, could help drive world sugar prices significantly higher, European traders and analysts said on Monday. Brazilian sugar areas are not expected to see rain until the end of July, he said, adding, “The crop, already small and low yielding, is getting worse.”