Flood-battered Farmers In Southern Brazil Wade Through Lost Harvests

Janine de Almeida Engelmann, an 18-year-old student, steps down from her bed in a truck body factory warehouse, while her neighbours Luciano Cavazin, 28, and his father Getulio dos Santos Machado, 52, lay down after they left their flooded houses in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A house under construction is almost covered with water at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 14, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Chicken stand on the roof of a house during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 14, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, stands in her dining room after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, removes mud from her living room, which is dirty from recent floods, on the first day she re-entered her house after the flooding at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. "I'm not mourning. I'm grateful because there are many who lost far more than us," Almeida said. "I'm grateful we survived and I mourn for those who lost family." REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A dead bull is seen during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, holds her granddaughter Livia, 5, as she says goodbye, next to her daughter Janaina de Almeida Engelmann, 32, and granddaughter Marcela, 6, after seeing them for the first time since they fled recent floods, at a truck body factory warehouse in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed-out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, cleans mud from photos of her granddaughter after floods at her house, in the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 17, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, puts feed out for his cows, which are his main source of livelihood, at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 15, 2024. After three days of ferocious rains, Engelmann and his wife fled their flooded home in early May and let loose their humble dairy herd on higher ground. Nearby, the waters rose above his head and within a day they were lapping at the roofs of houses. Their cows have nowhere to graze in the flooded landscape. Engelmann has made a daily trek by foot, tractor and boat to bring the herd whatever food he can find. He returns sopping wet each night after wading with friends through their farms, helping to haul away perished livestock and tend to the survivors. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, attaches a rope to the foot of a pig that was found dead in his neighbour's bedroom, after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Theirs were among the nearly 6,500 family farms flooded by this month's torrential downpours, according to analysis of satellite data by consultancy Terra Analytics. The floods have rattled agricultural markets as they disrupted soy harvesting, washed out silos, snared farm exports and killed over 400,000 chickens. The government is lining up rice imports to blunt the impact on national inflation figures. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, looks into her wardrobe, which is dirty with mud from recent floods, on the first day she re-entered her house after the flooding at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida (2nd-L), a 51-year-old farmer, her daughter Janine de Almeida Engelmann (R), an 18-year-old student, and other families sit at a truck body factory warehouse, where they are staying after they left their houses during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. "I'm not mourning. I'm grateful, because there are many who lost far more than us," Almeida said. "I'm grateful we survived and I mourn for those who lost family." REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, 51, straightens the shirt collar of her husband Joao Engelmann, 54, as they stay at a truck body factory warehouse after they left their house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 14, 2024. "I'm not mourning. I'm grateful because there are many who lost far more than us," Almeida said. "I'm grateful we survived and I mourn for those who lost family." REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, travels by boat during floods to feed his cows, his main source of livelihood, at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 15, 2024. After three days of ferocious rains, Engelmann and his wife fled their flooded home in early May and let loose their humble dairy herd on higher ground. Nearby, the waters rose above his head and within a day they were lapping at the roofs of houses. Their cows have nowhere to graze in the flooded landscape. Engelmann has made a daily trek by foot, tractor and boat to bring the herd whatever food he can find. He returns sopping wet each night after wading with friends through their farms, helping to haul away perished livestock and tend to the survivors. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Farmers Edite de Almeida, 51, and Joao Engelmann, 54, carry a refrigerator after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 17, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Farmer Joao Engelmann, 54, carries food and medication he took from his house during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 14, 2024. After three days of ferocious rains, Engelmann and his wife fled their flooded home in early May and let loose their humble dairy herd on higher ground. Nearby, the waters rose above his head and within a day they were lapping at the roofs of houses. Their cows have nowhere to graze in the flooded landscape. Engelmann has made a daily trek by foot, tractor and boat to bring the herd whatever food he can find. He returns sopping wet each night after wading with friends through their farms, helping to haul away perished livestock and tend to the survivors. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Janine de Almeida Engelmann, an 18-year-old student, spreads out a blanket near her mother Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, as they stay at a truck body at a factory warehouse after they left their house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Almeida and her daughter are sleeping on a truck bed in a neighbour's warehouse, improvising a domestic routine as they put their lives back together. "I've been through all this in the encampments - the challenges to cook, to sleep. I learned to live that way. But I didn't think I'd be doing it again," Almeida said. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, holds a muddy rosary as she cleans her house after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 18, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, stands in a room near marks from water and mud after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 17, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, opens a washing machine full of muddy water after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Theirs were among the nearly 6,500 family farms flooded by this month's torrential downpours, according to analysis of satellite data by consultancy Terra Analytics. The floods have rattled agricultural markets as they disrupted soy harvesting, washed out silos, snared farm exports and killed over 400,000 chickens. The government is lining up rice imports to blunt the impact on national inflation figures. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, cooks for her neighbours, including her godson Luciano Cavazin (L), 28, at a truck body factory warehouse after they left their houses during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobellia

A drone view shows vehicles partially underwater in a courtyard of the State Traffic Department during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 13, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A drone view shows a dead pig after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 17, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Cows belonging to farmer Joao Engelmann, 54, which are his main source of livelihood, eat feed brought by boat during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 15, 2024. After three days of ferocious rains, Engelmann and his wife fled their flooded home in early May and let loose their humble dairy herd on higher ground. Nearby, the waters rose above his head and within a day they were lapping at the roofs of houses. Their cows have nowhere to graze in the flooded landscape. Engelmann has made a daily trek by foot, tractor and boat to bring the herd whatever food he can find. He returns sopping wet each night after wading with friends through their farms, helping to haul away perished livestock and tend to the survivors. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, enters her house through the window, after furniture moved by water blocked the door, as she returns home for the first time after the floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, says goodbye to his granddaughters Marcela, 6, and Livia, 5, after seeing them for the first time since they fled recent floods, at a truck body factory warehouse in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A doll covered with mud lies on the floor at the house of farmers Edite de Almeida, 51, and Joao Engelmann, 54, after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, herds his cows during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. After three days of ferocious rains, Engelmann and his wife fled their flooded home in early May and let loose their humble dairy herd on higher ground. Nearby, the waters rose above his head and within a day they were lapping at the roofs of houses. Their cows have nowhere to graze in the flooded landscape. Engelmann has made a daily trek by foot, tractor and boat to bring the herd whatever food he can find. He returns sopping wet each night after wading with friends through their farms, helping to haul away perished livestock and tend to the survivors. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann (L), a 54-year-old farmer, and Joao Francisco Morais Cardozo, 55, remove a table from muddy water during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed-out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis and disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann (L), a 54-year-old farmer, lifts plastic as he goes to feed his cows, with his wife Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, and their godson and neighbour Luciano Cavazin, 28, as neighbour Inacio Hoffmann, 60, drives the tractor at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Hoffmann was just four months into retirement when the floods tore through his farm, killing 13 of 22 dairy cows. "It's so bleak to haul off and bury these creatures that we took care of every day," said Hoffmann. He is weighing whether to leave it all behind and try a new life elsewhere. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Joao Engelmann, a 54-year-old farmer, removes bottles of wine from muddy water during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Theirs were among the nearly 6,500 family farms flooded by this month's torrential downpours, according to analysis of satellite data by consultancy Terra Analytics. The floods have rattled agricultural markets as they disrupted soy harvesting, washed out silos, snared farm exports and killed over 400,000 chickens. The government is lining up rice imports to blunt the impact on national inflation figures. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A sofa is partially submerged in a street during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Knives and other utensils covered with mud lie in a drawer at the house of farmers Edite de Almeida, 51, and Joao Engelmann, 54, after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Theirs were among the nearly 6,500 family farms flooded by this month's torrential downpours, according to analysis of satellite data by consultancy Terra Analytics. The floods have rattled agricultural markets as they disrupted soy harvesting, washed out silos, snared farm exports and killed over 400,000 chickens. The government is lining up rice imports to blunt the impact on national inflation figures. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Farmers Geni Teresinha Mulinari, 54, and daughter Paola Mulinari, 26, share a bucket as they clean their house during floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 11, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Janine de Almeida Engelmann, an 18-year-old student, lays down with a local girl Livia, who was also displaced by recent flooding, as they watch cartoons on a phone at a truck body factory warehouse, after Engelmann and her family left their house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 16, 2024. The washed-out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis and disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A drone view shows people walking on a flooded street in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

A man carries a mattress at a truck body factory warehouse after he left his house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Photos smeared with mud from recent floods are scattered outside a house at the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 18, 2024. The washed out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Janine de Almeida Engelmann, an 18-year-old student, goes to sleep in a truck body factory warehouse, after she and her family left their house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. The washed-out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages in the area, adding to the crisis disrupting the lives of more than 2 million people. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Mud stains the bedroom of farmer Edite de Almeida, 51, after floods in the Integracao Gaucha settlement, in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 18, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Edite de Almeida, a 51-year-old farmer, sits by her phone as she waits for a call from her oldest daughter to share details about medical treatment she needs, at a truck body factory warehouse, where she is staying after she left her house during floods in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 10, 2024. Record-breaking floods in southern Brazil, the result of weather patterns intensified by climate change, have only started to recede after displacing half a million people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and killing more than 160. As the floodwaters began to retreat in recent weeks, Almeida got a first glimpse of her ravaged home, with the walls stained, appliances wrecked and belongings coated in mud. "I can't think about the future. That belongs to God," Almeida said. "I don't expect to have again what I had before. We're starting over," she added, grimacing through tears. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli