The invasion of cicadas in Argentina caused damage worth $1.3 billion (120 billion rubles) to the country’s agriculture. The assessment of the representative of the grain exchange, Julio Calzada, was reported on April 19 by the site El Cerdo.
Argentina ranks third in corn exports, only surpassed by Brazil and the United States. The country’s farmers planned to reap a record harvest. The cicadas that infest the fields transmit the spiroplasma disease, which affects corn. The Rosario Stock Exchange lowered its corn harvest forecast by 6.5 million tons.
“Losses caused by the leafhopper are estimated at approximately 1,268 billion dollars (120 billion rubles)”said the head of the economic studies department of the Rosario Stock Exchange, Julio Calzada. The expert estimates the future harvest at 50.5 million tons.
The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange lowered its corn forecast to 49.5 million tons. The prognosis may worsen further in the future as the disease cannot be defeated.
The cicada carries the spiroplasma bacteria and other diseases that attack corn.
Let us remember that after several years of drought, Argentina expected to obtain a good grain harvest. The country was going through a very difficult drought caused by the La Niña phenomenon. In 2023, the opposite phenomenon of El Niño occurred, ending the drought.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.