Concern in Torreón's agricultural and livestock sector over drought and heat stress

Uncertainty looms over the agricultural cycle in the Laguna region, where producers hope the rains will arrive soon to mitigate the effects of the drought on crops and livestock.

Marcelo Valdés Quintanilla, president of the Torreón Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, noted that productivity will be considerably lower this year, as only a third of the usual crop has been planted. Furthermore, the lack of water and plant stress have affected crop development.

"Yields will be lower because the planting volume is also lower. The plant is stressed by insufficient water and the lengthened irrigation cycle. Depending on weather conditions, productivity could decrease by up to 30 or 40%," he explained.

The impact is not only reflected in agriculture. In the livestock sector, the situation is increasingly complicated due to the recent rise in temperatures and humidity. , which have caused heat stress in the animals. Although no serious damage has been reported in Torreón, the drought has already wreaked havoc in some areas of Durango.

"We endure drought every year, but these past few years have been more atypical. The combination of heat and humidity affects animals in every aspect: production, feeding, and water consumption," the agricultural leader emphasized.

Despite the difficult situation, producers continue to closely monitor the impact on crops and animal health. The sector is currently working on screwworm prevention and conducting drills organized by the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica) and state authorities to protect livestock.

The climate outlook remains a cause for concern, with record high temperatures in recent years. Heat stress, both in plants and animals, puts the stability of the sector at risk. , which has not yet calculated exact losses, but does anticipate significant effects on the yield of corn, sorghum, forage and cotton crops.

Given this scenario, farmers and ranchers in Torreón hope that weather conditions will be more favorable in the coming months and that mitigation strategies will help overcome this crisis that threatens local production and supply.