Agricultural emergency declared in Uruguay
Uruguay’s minister of livestock, agriculture and fisheries, Fernando Mattos, announced an agricultural emergency for the entire country on October 20. This is because of a nationwide drought and poor fodder conditions for livestock.
In recent weeks, the number of cattle and calves being sent to feedlots has increased as ranchers fear losing the animals because of feed and water deficits.
Mr Mattos made the decision to declare the emergency after a meeting with the agricultural emergency committee, in order to allow producers affected by the lack of water to have help from an emergency fund.
With the absence of China in the Uruguayan beef market, slaughter of animals has been reduced. Some packing plants remain closed and this could now clash with the increasing number of cattle being placed in feedlots.
The minister also emphasised that groundwater levels were low, thus complicating the situation even more.
