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With the thermometer approaching zero degrees and the risk of frost, the city hall of Jaraguá do Sul, in the North of Santa Catarina, issued an urgent alert to rural producers. The guidance teaches how to protect vegetables, bananas, newborn animals, fish, and bees before the intense cold causes damage to crops and livestock.
In the face of an intense cold wave that hit Santa Catarina in May 2026, dropping the thermometer close to zero degrees and bringing the risk of frost, the City Hall of Jaraguá do Sul, in the North of Santa Catarina, issued an urgent alert to rural producers on May 22. The guidance, provided by the Department of Rural Development and Supply, recommends taking emergency measures in advance to protect crops and livestock from the effects of the cold, teaching how to save vegetables, bananas, and newborn animals before the low temperatures cause damage.
The alert comes amid a series of polar air masses that have been hitting the South of Brazil this autumn and early winter. In the week of the announcement, municipalities in Santa Catarina and Paraná recorded frost and cold records, with negative marks in mountainous areas. Therefore, according to the city hall, every decision made in the field during the critical period can mean the difference between loss and maintaining productivity, especially for small producers in the region.
Why frost is such a concern for the field
Frost forms when the temperature near the ground drops to very low levels, usually with a clear sky and calm wind, conditions that favor the freezing of moisture on plants. This phenomenon is one of the most feared in agriculture because it can burn leaves, compromise buds, and render entire harvests unviable in a few hours. In Santa Catarina, the higher altitude areas and lowlands are the most vulnerable to this type of event.
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Agronomist Jackson Haroldo Schütz, from the Department of Rural Development and Supply of Jaraguá do Sul, explains that intense cold affects different fronts of rural production at the same time, from livestock to crops, including fish and bee farming. Therefore, the central recommendation is anticipation: act preventively before the frost sets in, rather than trying to remedy the damage after it has already occurred.
How to protect animals from the cold and frost
In livestock farming, intense cold can compromise the health of herds, especially newborn animals, which are more sensitive to low temperatures. According to the agronomist, the recommendation is to ensure dry shelter, protection against the wind, and reinforcement in animal feeding during the colder period, measures that help maintain body temperature and herd immunity.
When pastures suffer from the cold and stop growing, feeding alternatives such as silage and hay become essential to keep the animals nourished. The specialist also highlights that natural structures, like trees, and integrated production systems help reduce the impact of low temperatures, acting as barriers against the cold wind and offering shelter to cattle during frost episodes.
Vegetables and bananas among the most vulnerable crops
Among the crops, vegetables and bananas are among the most vulnerable to frost, according to the city council’s guidance. To reduce damage, the agronomist suggests techniques such as sprinkler irrigation during the early morning, which helps protect plants at the coldest moment, as well as using covers and choosing more cold-resistant varieties when planting.
For the more sensitive plantations, specific practices can make the difference between losing or saving the production. Among them are fruit bagging, protection with straw, and adjustments in plant fertilization. These relatively simple and low-cost measures are especially useful for family farming, which often lacks large structures for frost protection and depends on the harvest to ensure income.
Fish farming, beekeeping, and even equipment require care
The cold does not only affect the soil and pastures. In fish farming, the recommendation is to reduce fish feeding on colder days, as the animals’ metabolism decreases with the temperature drop, and excess food can cause stress and even mortality in the tanks. In beekeeping, opening the hives during intense cold can compromise the internal thermal balance and harm the bees, so handling should be avoided on critical days.
Agricultural equipment is also on the alert radar. Pumps, sprayers, and tractors can suffer damage from water freezing in their internal systems, requiring specific care, such as using antifreeze and storing machines in protected locations. Small changes in management, according to the city council, help preserve both productivity and the producer’s assets during the frost period.
The role of climate monitoring
The central recommendation from experts is to closely and constantly monitor weather forecasts, acting preventively whenever there is an announcement of a sharp drop in temperature and risk of frost. Updated and reliable information can prevent significant losses and ensure more safety for those who depend on rural production for a living, allowing protective measures to be organized in advance.
A clarification about the causes of this cold is worthwhile. Although the initial communication associates cold waves with El Niño, meteorological institutes attribute the episodes to the arrival of polar air masses coming from the far south of the continent. Interestingly, according to Epagri/Ciram, the trend for the winter of 2026 in Santa Catarina is for above-average temperatures and less prolonged periods of intense cold, precisely due to the influence of El Niño, which reinforces the importance of producers following updated bulletins for each frost event, rather than relying solely on seasonal forecasts.
The alert from the Jaraguá do Sul City Hall is a reminder of how cold and frost require extra attention from those living off the land in Santa Catarina. From livestock to vegetables, from fish farming to equipment, every detail of management can determine the outcome of the harvest and the health of the herds. The good news is that many of the protective measures are simple and inexpensive, within reach even for small producers, as long as they are adopted in advance and based on reliable climate information.
Are you a rural producer or do you know someone who has lost crops or animals due to frost? What techniques do you use to protect production from intense cold? Leave your comment, share your field management experience during winter, and help other producers by sharing this article with those who need to prepare for the upcoming cold waves in Santa Catarina.
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