The low temperatures that affected several regions of Paraguay in recent days have not yet caused frosts with relevant damage to agricultural production, according to the Director of Risk Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Édgar Mayeregger. In an interview, he highlighted that although the cold was intense in some areas, thermometers did not reach critical levels for most crops.
“Actually, there was no frost. At least until today we have not received reports, and the temperatures did not reach levels of impact for the crops,” Mayeregger said. The coordinator explained that the risk begins when thermometers mark 3°C or less, but the effect depends on the development stage of each crop.
Among the crops most susceptible to frost are second-crop corn, second-crop soybeans, chia, sugarcane, and pastures. Vegetables may also be affected, but according to Mayeregger, if the producer adopts protective measures, losses tend to be small. “Management work helped a lot, with differentiated sowing dates and passive control measures against the cold,” he added.
The first intense cold of the year had already passed without serious consequences, because the most extreme temperatures were concentrated in low areas where there are normally no commercial crops. Now, attention turns to the coming days. “We are monitoring every 24 hours. We do not believe the thermometers will get close to 0°C, but that depends on the intensity and duration of the cold,” Mayeregger said.
Conditions that favor frost formation include absence of wind, low humidity, and clear skies, which generate thermal inversion and concentrate cold near the ground. The most prone regions are Itapúa, southern Alto Paraná, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Alto Paraguay, Caaguazú, part of Canindeyú, and sectors of the Lower Chaco. In Central, vegetables may be harmed if temperatures drop further.
The MAG maintains the alert and recommends that rural producers continue adopting preventive practices, such as protecting vegetables and proper management of the most sensitive crops.