Forage crops: the most strategic investment for modern agriculture

In a scenario of high costs, restricted credit, and ever-decreasing margins, the efficiency of the production system has become crucial for the sustainability of rural properties.

We are experiencing what economics calls a "perfect storm": a combination of depressed prices for major agricultural commodities, resulting from record global harvests and a saturated grain market, coupled with production costs that remain at historically high levels. The scenario is aggravated by interest rates that, although on an upward trajectory, still impose a disproportionate burden on debt and the financing of agricultural production costs.

In this context, forage plants cease to be merely a component of livestock farming and assume a strategic role in modern agriculture. More than just cover crops, they contribute to soil health, reduce production risks, increase productivity, and strengthen crop profitability, especially during periods of economic and climatic instability.

Second crop and fixed cost

Historically, the "second crop" of grains (generally corn or sorghum) has been used to dilute the fixed costs of the farm. However, in years of financial crisis and climate instability, this strategy can turn into a dangerous trap. Planting a second grain crop requires high investments in seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. When the weather or prices are unfavorable, the second crop ceases to generate revenue and becomes a financial liability.

The pursuit of operational efficiency requires producers to rethink land use. Exposure to risk during marginal planting windows has led to the adoption of alternatives that require less initial investment and offer greater protection to the production system.

However, reducing dependence on high-risk off-season crops does not mean leaving the land fallow—which would be a serious agronomic error in the No-Till Farming System. The option is to adopt crops that prepare the system for the main crop at a significantly lower cost.

Strategic tools

The cultivation of forage species, especially tropical grasses and legumes, represents an efficient strategy to increase the resilience of production systems. Unlike a grain crop, forage planted after the summer harvest acts as a "biological insurance." It does not require the same investments in agricultural operations, inputs, and management, and delivers a return to the system that few technologies can surpass.

Forage crops offer more than just ground cover. Their root systems promote soil decompaction, water infiltration, soil profile oxygenation, nutrient cycling, suppression of weeds, nematodes, pests and diseases, and also favor carbon sequestration.

In a crisis scenario, where producers need to get the most out of every kilogram of fertilizer applied, having well-structured and healthy soil is fundamental to avoiding productivity losses and increased production costs.

Technical and economic evidence

Scientific studies demonstrate that replacing grain crops with forage crops improves the performance of the production system. Research has shown that soybeans grown after the use of forage crops show an average increase of 15% in productivity, which represents approximately 515 kilograms per hectare of additional yield (or more than 8,5 sacks per hectare). This gain is associated with improved bioindicators of soil health, with increased enzymatic activity and nutrient cycling.

From a financial standpoint, the return on investment (ROI) is quite significant. While the cost of establishing a forage cover crop ranges from US$9 to US$30 per hectare in seeds, the financial return solely from increased subsequent soybean productivity is estimated at US$198 per hectare.

Savings for the soil

In times of expensive inputs, forage crops act as a nutrient reserve. Brachiaria cultivars recover potassium and phosphorus from the deeper layers of the soil and return them to the surface through biomass. After the forage dries out, these nutrients are released gradually, reducing the immediate dependence on highly soluble and expensive chemical fertilizers.

Furthermore, the persistent mulch on the soil reduces surface temperature and retains moisture, mitigating the effects of water stress — a recurring problem that has decimated profit margins in several regions.

The use of forage legumes also contributes to the improvement of the physical and biological attributes of the soil, promoting the supply of nitrogen to the system through biological fixation. Studies show that forage legumes can fix between 50 and more than 250 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year.

They can be used alone or in combination with grasses. Forage crops can also be grazed, diversifying income. Studies on farms show an 18% increase in soybean productivity in grazed areas.

This strategy enhances the competitiveness of Brazilian producers. Sustainability here is not an abstract concept, but a tool for economic resilience that allows for increased production with less external interference.

System maturity

The growth of the forage seed market shows that investing in soil health reduces risks and increases the efficiency of the main crop. The adoption of integrated systems – Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) – or the strategic use of forage crops as cover crops for no-till farming marks the maturity of the Brazilian production system.

The producer who understands forage as an investment in biological infrastructure will, at the end of this crisis, be in a leading position, with lower production costs, more fertile soils, and an operation significantly less vulnerable to climatic fluctuations and the commodity and input market.

* By Marcelo Ayres Carvalho, Embrapa Cerrados