Corn stands out with more than 75 million tons expected in the off-season

With the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, it is essential to guarantee the high productivity of a food like corn, rich in nutrients and accessible to all social classes. The off-season, which takes place between April and June, is expected to reach 75,4 million tons, for a total production estimate for the year of 101,9 million tons, according to data from the National Supply Company (Conab). One of the factors responsible for the high grain productivity is the use of agricultural aviation, today an important crop management tool, not only due to the speed and precision in spraying pesticides, but also due to the reduction in application costs.

Controlling pests and diseases is fundamental to increasing production potential, explains professor at Unesp in Botucatu (SP), Ulisses Rocha Antuniassi. “In addition to good weather conditions this year, in particular, one of the positive elements of the corn production chain in this harvest is represented by the application of insecticides and fungicides through aerial spraying, mainly due to the size of the crop”, he points out. He warns that ground spraying can cause plant breakdown, damaging productivity.

According to Ulisses, agricultural aviation has been increasingly adopted in the country and is gaining strength and competitiveness by guaranteeing better quality production, in addition to being an application tool in the country with specific regulations and strict standards.

Based on its experience in the field, the company Aerotek Aviação Agrícola carried out a comparison in the production of corn crops between land and aerial application techniques. In the latter, the result was an increase in productivity of around seven bags per hectare. Furthermore, the producer reduced product waste and saved water. “We believe that our work leads to real results for the benefit of both producers and the population. This is what we have seen at the moment, in the corn harvest and with the results of this comparative test. The correct quantity of pesticides represents greater productivity, saving resources and quality on Brazilians' tables”, points out the director of Aerotek, Tiago Textor.

the operations manager at Perfect Flight - an aerial application management startup - Leonardo Luvezuti, points out that aviation also brings more safety at this time, when concern for the environment and sanitary hygiene are in evidence, as not even the pilot and no other employees of the properties will have direct contact with each other and the product. “Providing more health care and more precise application are the strengths of aerial application. In relation to corn, there is another advantage: avoiding contamination with pests and diseases through implements that touch the plants, as can happen in the case of ground spraying”, points out Leonardo.

Startups like Perfect Flight, which alone has more than 6 million hectares processed, are increasingly sought after. “Our tool was created to bring even more technology to the sector, with personalized maps and data that help professionals create an application that exceeds 90% accuracy”, explains Leonardo.