Frost Damages Nearly Fifth of Brazil Sugar Cane Crop

EXCLUSIVE: Frosts devastated large areas of Brazil’s top sugar-cane states: Analyst

Vast areas in three of Brazil’s top sugar-cane states were devastated by severe early morning frosts on July 24 and 25, Datagro told Reuters.

The disaster occurred at a time when more than half of Brazil’s expected record 590-million-ton crop remains unharvested, said the report.

Some 65 million metric tons, or 18 percent of the unharvested cane was damaged by the frost, Datagro told Reuters.

“We don’t know how much of the affected … cane has been lost yet; we should know in about a week… In some cases the ratoons (young shoots) were hit and will need to be replanted, so the impact will carry over into next year’s crop.”

The worst affected areas were the states of Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paranapanema Valley in Sao Paulo.

The brown rot setting in to the growing point of cane, indicates that the plant will loose its sugar content and die within a month. (Credit: Renee du Preez) via ABC Rural Au.

Full report posted HERE.