ORPLANA (Organization of Sugarcane Producers' Associations of Brazil) remains alert to the impacts of wildfires affecting rural properties in the state of São Paulo and other regions of Brazil.

In a new report released this Friday (13th), the organization stated that between August 23rd and September 10th, more than 3,000 fire outbreaks were identified, resulting in over 181,000 hectares burned in sugarcane areas and regrowth areas in the state of São Paulo.

The damage is estimated at over R$ 1.2 billion, due to the effects of fires on standing cane, stubble, and the poor quality of raw materials, as well as the increased costs of replanting and management. ORPLANA’s calculation of burned hectares does not account for areas such as APP (Permanent Preservation Areas), legal reserves, highway margins, pastures, etc.

"The database used by ORPLANA consists of a set of satellites that monitor these areas, including tracking wildfires. Through spectrophotometry, it’s possible to see the difference between areas where sugarcane was present and where it was not, as well as what happened to the cane—whether it burned, changed color, or remained unaffected—along with field verification," explained the CEO of the organization, José Guilherme Nogueira (photo).

Nogueira noted that producers are still piecing things together to determine the next steps. "The cost of renewing a sugarcane field is around R$ 13,500 per hectare. Even for the regrowth that remains viable and doesn't need replanting, there may still be a need for management and nutrients, which will also incur costs. That’s because the straw mulch that was there helped control weeds, retained water, and contributed to the organic matter in the soil," he explained. "Additionally, 3- to 4-month-old cane regrowth turned to dust, creating an accumulation of ash, which will also require management in the area," he emphasized.

For ORPLANA—which currently includes 35 associations of sugarcane suppliers and represents over 12,000 sugarcane producers—due to the losses, the cane will only be able to regrow once there is substantial and uniform rainfall. "The planting rate, the area available for harvesting next year, and the current dry climate scenario could indeed impact the future harvest, but it's still too early for any predictions, as we will depend on how the rains and weather patterns develop in the coming months," Nogueira concluded.