Millet cultivation achieves high productivity and grows in savannahs

The yields achieved, the quality of the grains and the appreciation are driving the planting of millet in the cerrados. Many farmers in the region produced an average of 50 bags per hectare in the last harvest. The reason is related to the correct management of the crop, which was carried out by farmers from planting to harvest.

Marlon Rogério Lermen, from the municipality of Nova Ubiratã (MT), used the Millet Hybrid from ATTO Sementes in the last harvest. Harvested an average of 52,5 bags per hectare. His family produces soybeans, corn, millet and also works in beef cattle farming. “On the same property where the millet was planted, the corn also responded well, as it had more regular rains. I had never put fertilizer on millet, and this year I had some left over and I added a small amount. I plant millet because I have livestock with confinement. I use it in the animals' diet, but I also sell the grain, in addition to producing quality straw. The Millet Hybrid also acts as a nematode reducer.”

Lermen said he followed the management guidelines of ATTO sales representatives, such as keeping the area free of weeds, among other practices used in the crop.

In confinement, he uses corn silage as roughage and in the diet for energy and protein. “I use DDG [dried bagasse, a byproduct of ethanol plants] from corn and soybean meal for protein, and corn and millet for energy. Millet and corn should be dosed according to the diet recommended by the veterinarian.” 1.000 heads are confined per year, but it also works with breeding and rearing.

Producer Edgard Gomes Silva, also from Nova Ubiratã, achieved an average of 9060 sc/ha with ADRg 45 in the 30 hectare area he planted. “There was an increase in the value of millet grain in this harvest, with many people managing the soil, combating nematodes, and millet is a crop that emerges very quickly during the first rains and also helps protect the soil”, says Edgard.

In the second year of planting millet, farmer Diego Fernando Pasqualotti, from Canarana, achieved an average of 52,4 bags per hectare in both ADRg 9060 and ADRg 9070. He planted millet on 60 hectares for grain production, covering soil and combating nematodes.

Pasqualotti says that the amount of rain was well below expectations, but well distributed. “I believe I reached this productivity due to well-managed management, with planting at the recommended speed, clean area, application of fertilizer, perfect plant stand and application of pesticides at the correct time”, he explains. The producer sells millet grain to chicken farms and noticed an increase in the price of the grain.

The Country Joker

Millet underwent a transformation throughout the harvest, going from a ground cover crop to an excellent alternative for producing high quality and liquid grains, and with the additional benefit of being a driver of soybean productivity, while also combating nematodes. More recently, it became an ingredient authorized by Anvisa for the manufacture of whole foods.

“We are facing a product that generates gains for all segments of agribusiness, in recent harvests the grain has achieved excellent value. Millet grain has high liquidity, high protein and essential amino acids content, making it essential for the production of quality feed, generating excellent income for farmers, livestock breeders and poultry farms”, states the commercial director of ATTO Seeds, Juca Matielo.