Death comes to us all. Life's but a walking shadow | As I understand it there is a good deal of land already cleared being used as cattle grazing in the north central part of Brazil. When the cattle overgraze it it can be converted into soybean land. Given the economics & political culture of Brazil there is every incentive to expand acres (more income) and almost no political incentive to stop the conversion (endemic corruption). The Brazilians are no different from the European colonists of North America, the sodbusting settlers of the Great Plains or Cliven Bundy of Nevada. They see it as opportunity to better their economic situation by using what appears to be an unused resourse that they have every natural right to and I understand their sentiments ( I don't agree with Bundy's radical views, just understand his feelings).
However, there is beginning to be some evidence that the current level of rainfall in central & norther Brazil depends on the trees in the rain forest by influencing the temperatures and adding moisture to the system. Some people are saying that the drought around San Paulo is the consequence of deforestation further west. If that is the case then further land conversion might lead to a decline in agricultural production and be self-limiting. We had to learn that lesson in the 1930's, they may in the coming years. |
South Americas soybean production
