The new planting revolution involves human capital

Considering that a rural property is similar to factories where each sector has a supervisor and a role to play and knowledge of its specific activity is essential to bring the best results for the whole; In the field, the particularization of production stages gradually becomes the rule, where specialists are trained to perform with a critical eye on each part of the planting process, which, roughly speaking, has always been seen as a simple activity. All that was needed was to determine the area, prepare the equipment, define the operators and “drop it” into the field to plant.

But science, research and technological development have gradually advanced and today we can no longer treat planting as a simple act of throwing seeds in the soil. In other words, if in the early days of agriculture there was only intuition and hands to plan and execute sowing, today there is a gigantic accumulation of consolidated agronomic knowledge and a remarkable technological apparatus at your disposal, which allows you to go much further .

The result of agronomic research and experimentation has already proven the impact that a centimeter more or less has on the position of the seed in the soil, allowing the farmer to define the best depth, even depending on the type of soil. And in machines and systems, there is already equipment with artificial intelligence and components used by the automobile industry to generate high performance, capable of increasingly improving the correct spacing between seeds in each planting line, including considering curve situations and areas of overlays. After so much progress, we reached a reality that we call crossroads or, in popular jargon, snooker. The dilemma is: where do we go from here?

Even though we are entering the era of Digital Agriculture, Big Data, sensors and even autonomous tractor driving, the reality in the field shows that there is a significant need for more People! The new scenario now envisioned by Geração Agro based on years of experience dedicated to the countryside, exclusively to planting, is that this sector, as in others, lacks managers capable of taking the reins of the planting process into their own hands. This way, this professional will be able to understand what happens throughout the cycle so that, in the end, each seed is given the chance to germinate and become a plant capable of expressing its maximum productive potential.

As intuitive as it may be, it must be emphasized that no technology is capable of compensating for the loss of productive potential from a poorly planted seed. No machine, no matter how modern the onboard technology, will ensure perfect planting if the team is not engaged, trained and understanding the importance of each process in the Planting Cycle.

The question that now arises is, who would take care of supervising the entire planting operation? In no way is it possible for him to be the producer/owner, given all his responsibilities. Being at the top of the pyramid, its focus is managing the business and analyzing productivity and profitability indicators, eventually providing new tools to improve them.

The secret then lies in the middle position of the pyramid, the first with some autonomy and, of course, the chance for recognition and personal and professional growth. This is the planting supervisor, a professional whose presence has been increasingly necessary within the process and requested, as demonstrated by the increased demand for our training of this type of professional.

He needs to be methodical, have a sense of urgency and, above all, of importance. Someone capable of taking responsibility for the success of planting, generating significant gains at harvest time. Its main functions are planting planning and continuous and detailed monitoring of the operation, making the necessary adjustments to ensure the expected result: a planting of excellence.

Last but not least, he still has the task of leading the planting team, exercising full and natural leadership over the property employees who make up the base of the pyramid, the mechanics and operators. It is also up to the Planting Supervisor to do the planning and charge the mechanics to leave the planter in order for the operators well before planting day.

From the moment this professional is trained and starts working on the property, even if outsourced, his role becomes part of the farm and he plays a central role in the success of the planting. It becomes a support point for operators and mechanics, even enabling training aimed at these groups to be more effective thanks to its support.

The base of the pyramid, the largest group, is characterized by respect for hierarchy and good will. However, they are not always able to make good decisions in the face of unforeseen events, due to lack of knowledge. Hiring people with a spark in their eyes and a desire to get things right is important, but it’s not enough. Training them correctly, in the company of a Planting Supervisor, speaking their language, confronting them with situations they are familiar with is the way to go.

In the end, a good supervisor will have a good team. And at the moment, more than new machines, it is this set of People, skills and talents that planting needs to take its next leap! It's time to have someone focused on the quality of the planting. Only in this way will the producer have correctly executed planning in which the seeds will establish a well-formed crop, generating high productivity per hectare and, therefore, more financial return at the end of the harvest.

Paulo Cesar Ferreira, Technical Director of Geração Agro