Carrot yields fall 30% in Brazil after heavy spring rainfall

Heavy rainfall during the March and April planting window in São Gotardo, Minas Gerais, has pushed carrot yields in the region’s 2026 winter crop down 30% compared to the same period last year, according to data from hfbrasil. Planting for the winter crop began in mid-March and finished in July. The elevated rainfall in March and April delayed part of the planting schedule, shifting some activity into April and May, and hampered root development in the first fields to go in. The excessive moisture raised the incidence of leaf spot and soft rot, both of which affected root formation. Although the plants later recovered, the damage remained visible at harvest time.

In July, growers in the São Gotardo region averaged 2,233 boxes per hectare. In July 2025, yields reached 3,200 boxes per hectare, a record driven by favorable weather conditions. The gap persisted despite the high level of technology growers apply in the region and despite milder, drier conditions from mid-June onward, which reduced quality and phytosanitary problems in later-planted fields.

Production is expected to recover in the coming months, approaching last year’s levels as supply increases. Fields currently show no significant physical, physiological, or phytosanitary problems, supported by milder temperatures and drier weather. A forecast El Niño event in the second half of the year introduces uncertainty, as it could bring higher rainfall and rising temperatures to southeastern Brazil, increasing phytosanitary and quality risks. If the phenomenon affects local production significantly, its impact on planting and preparations for the 2026/27 summer crop could be even greater.