Uruguayan Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Fernando Mattos explained that the country is in an emergency situation due to drought.

He announced that more than 350 million pesos will be released from the fund for this emergency, to help small family producers or under 500 hectares.

Mattos mentioned that the comparative data from 2021 show that there is a more pronounced water deficit at a complex time, since spring is the season of vegetative development.

Similarly, this is the third consecutive year that it has decided to declare an agricultural emergency, and which in 2021 covered 12 million hectares and more than 1,500 producers.

On the other hand, it considered that it is a cumulative process, there is no availability of moisture in the soil and groundwater to irrigate the farm moved away, especially in Montevideo, Canelone and St. Joseph.

Drought in Argentina

The drought in Argentina has worsened and is affecting 70% of livestock areas, where in most breeding areas, after three, four or five months without rain, the state of the fields is very bad, with cows losing body condition.

Most cows have newborn calves and, according to consultant Ignacio Iriarte, of the Federation of Regional Meat Processing Industries (FIFRA), procreation is also compromised.

Iriarte points out that the decline in the body status of cows is worrying, but also the precarious state of the oxen.

The consultant explains that both breeders and breeders began, several weeks ago, to get away from the farm, multiplying the auctions, which are selling between 70 and 80% more cattle than a year ago.

The analyst explained that if the rains arrive only in January-February, as many forecasts risk, the effect of the dry season on future beef production will be very important.

Source: Canal Rural