CESB points to productivity as an economic strategy in soybean farming

The Brazilian Strategic Soybean Committee (CESB) has consolidated, over 18 harvests, a database with 67.464 entries, 9.830 audited areas, and records from 2.203 municipalities. The historical data gathers information generated by nearly 46 producers and consultants. According to Sergio Abud, vice-president of CESB, the data shows an average yield of approximately 85 sacks of soybeans per hectare during this period. (Read about the 2025/26 edition here)

In the most recent harvest, the national average indicated by the National Supply Company exceeded 61 sacks per hectare. The Harvest Rally recorded an average close to 62 sacks per hectare. The CESB average reached 97 sacks per hectare. For Abud, the numbers show the difference between average productivity and productivity obtained in areas with management focused on high efficiency.

The regional breakdown reveals significant differences. In the North region, the average yield reached 80,68 sacks per hectare. In the Northeast, it reached 104 sacks per hectare. In the Central-West, Southeast, and South regions, the average was close to 95 sacks per hectare. According to Abud, these results need to be analyzed within the context of each region's production system.

In the North and Northeast regions, many producers depend on a single annual harvest. Climatic conditions limit crop rotation. In this scenario, soybeans account for a large part of the farm's profitability. Therefore, management failures can compromise the annual economic result. For Abud, in these regions, high productivity plays the role of an economic strategy.

In the Midwest, Southeast, and South of Brazil, many areas operate with two crop seasons. The system can combine soybeans and corn, or soybeans and cotton. The second crop increases annual revenue and dilutes fixed costs. At the same time, it requires more attention to logistics, machinery, and management. The economic result depends on the performance of the system, and not just on the soybeans.

CESB also observes increased productivity in both irrigated and rainfed areas. Over the last five harvests, the average yield in irrigated areas reached 99 sacks per hectare in the last harvest mentioned. The linear trend indicates an approximate gain of three sacks per hectare per year. In rainfed areas, the approximate increase reaches four sacks per hectare per year. According to Abud, the data involves approximately one thousand audited areas per year.

Central factors

Climate appears as one of the central factors in defining management strategies. Abud cited information from Bárbara Centelhas about the effects of El Niño in Brazil. The phenomenon does not represent only isolated drought or rain. It causes opposite extremes in different regions of Brazilian territory.

In the North-Central region, El Niño tends to create thermal and hydrological alert zones. The pattern described involves a sharp reduction in rainfall and an increase in the occurrence of heat waves. Under these conditions, soybeans can suffer severe stress during the reproductive phase. This stress limits development, pod formation, and grain filling. Premature senescence can also cause flower and pod abortion.

In the South and South-Central regions, the same phenomenon can bring excessive rainfall. The greater volume of water can favor productivity in years when water limits yields. However, the excess also increases the risks of waterlogging, low oxygenation of the root system, difficulty in harvesting, and greater pressure from pests and diseases. Increased cloud cover reduces available solar radiation.

The strategy changes depending on the region. In the North-Central region, the focus is on water retention and access in the soil. All rainwater needs to infiltrate and remain available in the micropores. For this to happen, the soil needs to have macropores in adequate proportion. In the South and South-Central regions, the focus involves rapid drainage and phytosanitary protection. The same physical structure of the soil helps water infiltrate and reduce waterlogging.

According to Abud, the foundation of climate resilience lies in building soils with chemical fertility, physical integrity, biological activity, and adequate root architecture. Vulnerable systems have shallow roots. They respond quickly to a lack or excess of water. Resilient systems have deep roots and better explore the soil profile. This increases access to water and nutrients.

Determinant factors

Abud highlighted data from Professor Paulo Sentelhas regarding the determining factors of productivity. Solar radiation, temperature, carbon dioxide, genetics, and plant arrangement define the productive potential. According to the models cited, Brazilian crops can potentially exceed 200 sacks per hectare. Achievable productivity depends on water. With water availability, the models indicate a possibility close to 180 sacks per hectare.

Real productivity depends on agronomic efficiency. This efficiency represents the ability to reduce losses due to fertility problems, pests, diseases, weeds, nematodes, and abiotic stresses. According to Abud, even with fungicides and available technologies, losses remain high. He also cited the silent damage caused by nematodes and the constantly changing problems with weeds.

Start of productivity

In CESB's view, productivity begins to be defined at sowing. From the moment the planter deposits the seed in the soil, management focuses on reducing losses. Therefore, the committee organizes the technical discussion in four areas: planting, nutrition, physiology, and plant protection.

Plant establishment involves genetics, seed quality, seed treatment, plantability, and stand management. Nutrition addresses chemical, physical, and biological fertility, as well as soil profile development. Physiology seeks to explain plant function, photosynthetic efficiency, abiotic stress, and grain weight. Plant protection deals with integrated management, the use of chemical and biological tools, and loss reduction.

The ultimate goal involves more efficient, resilient, and profitable systems. According to Abud, high agronomic efficiency leads to the dilution of fixed costs and reduces the cost per sack produced. The net margin then guides the economic evaluation. CESB works with a productivity target associated with a net margin above 40 percent. For Abud, producing more in the same area constitutes the strategy with the greatest impact on the producer's margin.