Locust Cloud in Argentina Worries Brazilian Farmers Again

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The locust cloud in Argentina is once again troubling farmers in southern Brazil. With higher temperatures, it is expected to reach Rio Grande do Sul by next Wednesday, July 22nd.

The forecast came on Saturday afternoon, July 18th, by the head of the Division of Plant Health Defense of the Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development Secretariat of Rio Grande do Sul, Ricardo Felicetti.

For the time being, the locust cloud remains stable in Corrientes, Argentina, 130 kilometers from the Rio Grande do Sul municipality of Barra do Quaraí. The data on the insects are being provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), which is monitoring the situation with the Argentine phytosanitary body.

“We are concerned due to the rise in temperatures in Rio Grande do Sul this weekend, but we are prepared in case of a potential swarm in our territory. We have an emergency operational plan prepared,” Felicetti explained.

He added that, despite the state of alert, the current trend is for the cloud to shift to the province of Entre Rios, on the border between Argentina and Uruguay.

Although they do not pose a direct risk to humans, locusts can, as a group, cause massive economic damage, devouring crops in a matter of hours.

Should the insects reach the state, Felicetti believes the potential for damage is enormous, particularly in newly planted crops like wheat and canola. In addition, barley, citrus and winter pastures for dairy cattle and beef cattle fattening are also of concern.

The direction is for rural producers to be alert to the appearance of insects and report their presence immediately to the agricultural defense inspectorate of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development or the nearest EMATER (agency for technical assistance and rural development) municipal office.

Last Friday, July 17th, operational issues were discussed with representatives of MAPA, IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), the Secretariat of Environment and Infrastructure of Rio Grande do Sul, and the Henrique Luis Roessler State Foundation for Environmental Protection.

“We also discussed the issue of emergency resources to work on suppressing locust outbreaks,” he said.

A second cloud of locusts, which is moving in Paraguay, is also being monitored by Brazil, though with less concern.

The insects, which were located in Madrejón and 4 de Mayo, headed southeast toward Teniente Pico in the department of Boquerón, also in Paraguay, according to the neighboring country’s Plant Health and Quality Service (SENAVE).

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