Argentina floods cause farmland disaster


News from Panama / Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

While the US is suffering from one the greatest droughts in history, Argentina is experiencing significant flooding.  Anyone familiar with commodity prices and agriculture knows that this is not good.  As global warming and the cycles like this continue, food security will become a very important subject and at the top of most countries agenda.  You might protest when your salary is capped, but when a country goes hungry you will see people kill to survive.  As I have said before, Panama is a good place to be right now and here in Chiriqui, the bread basket of the country.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Heavy rains this year in Argentina have flooded 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million acres) of farmland outside the capital, causing millions of dollars in losses for farmers and ranchers and prompting the governor of Buenos Aires province to declare an agricultural emergency.

Gov. Daniel Scioli says it has been raining twice as much this year than in all of 2011, and the rainfall has come down more quickly than usual, creating great accumulations of water.

The government estimates 14 percent of the province’s wheat and barley has been lost, and says cattle have suffered just when calving season was beginning. Beekeeping has been severely affected as well.

Scioli said Monday that the disaster declaration will enable agricultural businesses to delay paying taxes and debts.