Severe storms with heavy rain and strong winds swept through the southern region of Brazil, causing significant damage to both grain facilities and crops.
Damage to I.Riedi’s Grain Facility in Cascavel (PR)
In Cascavel (PR), the grain and agricultural input distributor I.Riedi reported extensive damage to its receiving unit. The storm, which hit on Thursday (October 24), impacted hoppers, machine rooms, and elevators, and also felled trees around the facility.
In a statement, the company confirmed that the damage was “significant” but noted that none of the silos were affected and no injuries were reported. “We are taking all necessary measures to assess the situation and minimize risks. Our teams are already working to restore the damaged structures and ensure the safety of our operations,” the company added.
Crop Damage in Rio Grande do Sul
The storms also severely impacted crops in Barros Cassal (RS), where farmer Diego Antunes manages a 1,000-hectare farm. According to Antunes, around 120 millimeters of rain fell, accompanied by strong winds that flattened 50% of his wheat field, which covers 60 hectares.
“The damage is undeniable,” Antunes said. “We also faced crop diseases due to the excess rain. Now we’ll have to wait until harvest to fully assess the losses.”
The wheat crop had already struggled during the flowering stage due to continuous rains. However, soy planting, which occupies the rest of his farmland, is still on track. “Some neighbors have already started planting, and we plan to begin next week,” he added.
Soybean Planting Resumes Despite Storms
The planting ban (vazio sanitário) ended on September 30 in Rio Grande do Sul, allowing soybean planting for the 2024/25 crop from October 1. Despite the heavy rain this week, Antunes expects only a slight delay in the start of sowing but believes it won’t cause significant setbacks.
