Second Frost in Two Weeks Impacted Wheat in Southern Brazil

Frosts were recorded Monday morning in the southern Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Parana. This is the second frost in two weeks in the region.

The crop most impacted by the cold temperatures is winter wheat. The wheat is most advanced in the state of Parana where losses had already been recorded from the previous frost. The most recent frost will add to the losses in central and southern Parana.

The wheat in Parana already had been impacted by dry weather over the last two months and with two episodes of frost in two weeks, the condition of the wheat is expected to deteriorate significantly. It will take a few days to evaluate the extent of the damage, but the most advanced wheat is expected to exhibit the greatest damage. Some farmers are estimating their wheat yields as low as 5 to 15 sacks per hectare (4 to 13 bu/ac).

Frost also occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which is Brazil’s largest wheat producing state, but the wheat is not as advanced in its development as in Parana. The current frost was not as severe as the frost two weeks ago, but it is still expected to impact the most advanced wheat that was in the process of flowering.

Tags: crop, frosts, Rio Grande do Sul, damage, Santa Catarina, Parana, Brazil, wheat, yields