there are some fields "painted green"; in other areas the rains came late

The rain that arrived in the middle of January “was extremely timely”commented Juan Manuel García, vice-president of the National Agrarian Cooperative (Copagran) to The Observer. In some places the situation would be critical if there were no rainfall in the first month of the year, since the potential of some crops would have been compromised, he explained.

While the water was welcome, and on the coast “it was a couple”, for the first-class maize –which is currently being harvested– it arrived late. The effect of water deficit on this crop can be seen in its performance, which is very lean, he detailed. The situation is different for other crops, such as sunflower, first and second soybeans, late corn and sorghum, for which “the water came ideal”, he indicated.

When it rained, these crops were still in the vegetative period, so their yields were not affected by the previous lack of water.

“A good stock of plants was achieved, with good planting dates, and with these rains now we are very much in the race. Much of the match is still missing in the critical period, which is the grain filling and the flowering of late corn in mid-February and early March, but thanks to these rains the crops are doing very well, growing and developing,” assured.

Regrowth and “impressive” response

In the livestock sector, the rainfall was also welcome and it is expected that those that come will continue to help the growth of pastures, which have already shown a reaction after the recharge of water. García indicated that until mid-January, many meadows had been suffering from water deficits and natural fields showed a low forage supply, but after the rainfall “There was a regrowth and an impressive response.”

This meant that very good volumes of forage were achieved and that a good animal performance was once again obtained.

Diego Arrospide, president of the Association of Livestock Consignees (ACG), maintained that although there are areas –mainly in the north of the country and in some specific places in the east– that continue to be affected by water deficit, the livestock scenario had “a productive rearrangement in terms of the forage situation after the rainfall”.

Forage sorghums and grasslands have had a good response to water, he said, adding that “a very important compensation is seen with quality pastures that are in very good condition.”

“They painted themselves green”

Regarding the natural field, Arrospide explained that many producers, anticipating the climatic announcements, made load adjustments and those fields have reacted.

“The fields turned green very quickly with the accumulation of nitrogen as a result of the dry season, and in some areas we are beginning to see a better level of grass volume. Today the country is practically painted green,” he said.

In general, the cattle entered the environments better and that is seen in the activity, he added. According to the operator, the lack of water could be felt above all in the jealousy of the animals and for this reason many producers adopted supplementation technologies, temporary and early weaning and splints betting on the pregnancy of the cattle, “seeing that the bodily state of the animals fell and the drought began to worsen.”

In the medium term, farmers see “a very different scenario” from the one at the beginning of summer, which they hope will be consolidated with the next announced rainfall.

Arrospide highlighted that if it continues to rain it will be possible to generate dynamism, especially in the commercial area, “who came quite depressed”.

The demand for replacement cattle has been awakened by the rains, he indicated. As for the cattle destined for slaughter, said that today the body condition is beginning to rearrange itself with a gain of kilos, which gives dynamism and firmness to the market. Businesses in the fat cattle market are agile, there is demand and there is a lot of dynamism both in values ​​and in sales.

From the ACG they foresee a scenario of very good demand for all categories in both markets, with a consequent firmness of values.

insufficient water

Although in some areas of the country the rains left very positive results, in others they were not enough. For this reason, last Thursday, after a meeting of the Agricultural Emergency Committee, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) decided to extend the area declared under agricultural emergency.

More than 10 million hectares are under agricultural emergency due to water deficit throughout the country. Some areas also include the declaration of emergency for forest fires and others for the horticultural sector, after greenhouses were destroyed by the winds.

Below is the detail by department:

• Artigas: 3rd, 4ta, 5ta, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.
• cannelloni: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th , 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th.
• Long Hill: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th.
• peach: 2nd, 3rd, 4th 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th.
• flowers: 2nd and 3rd.
• Florida: 2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th. and 14th, 15th and 16th.
• lavalleja 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th and 13th.
• Montevideo: 8th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th.
• Paysandu: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.
• Black river: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.
• Rivera: 3ra, 5ta, 6th, 7th and 8th
• Jump: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th and 16th.
• Saint Joseph: 10th and 11th.
• soriano: 7th and 12th.
• Tacuarembo: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 11th and 16th.
• Thirty-three: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th 9th and 10th