The rain did not arrive all at once. It lingered, pressed low against the land, and returned again after fields had already begun to surrender. By the time Storm Marta moved on, the ground across parts of Spain and Portugal had absorbed more water than it could hold, leaving behind a silence broken only by runoff slipping through furrows meant for seed.

Farmers on both sides of the border are reporting what they describe as catastrophic damage to crops, as prolonged rain, flooding, and strong winds tore through agricultural regions at a vulnerable moment in the growing cycle. Fields of vegetables, grains, and fruit-bearing trees have been flattened, submerged, or stripped, with losses mounting by the day as assessments continue.

In rural areas, the storm’s impact is measured not in headlines but in soil conditions and broken routines. Saturated ground has made access difficult, delaying cleanup and replanting efforts. In some locations, standing water has lingered long enough to rot roots and undo months of preparation, leaving farmers uncertain whether recovery this season is still possible.

Storm Marta followed a familiar but troubling pattern: intense rainfall concentrated over a short period, overwhelming drainage systems and rivers alike. Agricultural unions in Spain and Portugal say the damage extends beyond individual plots, affecting supply chains and regional output, particularly for crops already under pressure from volatile weather and rising costs.

For many growers, the timing compounds the loss. Early spring planting in some regions and critical development stages in others mean that replacement is neither simple nor cheap. Insurance claims are expected to rise, but compensation, where available, rarely covers the full cost of a season lost to water and wind.

Authorities have begun surveying affected areas, while local governments consider emergency support. Yet the broader concern lingers beyond immediate relief. Farmers increasingly speak of adaptation rather than recovery, of adjusting calendars and expectations to storms that arrive heavier and less predictably than before.

As skies clear, the land reveals what the rain concealed: channels cut through fields, debris caught in fencing, crops pressed flat against the earth. It is in this quiet aftermath that the storm’s true measure becomes visible—not in rainfall totals, but in what will not be harvested.

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Sources

Reuters Associated Press El País Publico