Technologies in tractors could reduce costs in the 2026 harvest.

With the harvest of the largest soybean crop in history underway and planning for the next crop approaching, Brazilian farmers are facing a crucial moment financially. While the market debates ESG as a corporate goal, Valtra, a global leader in the manufacture of agricultural machinery, proposes a change of perspective: sustainability in the field is, above all, a strategy for cost reduction.

The Brazilian Association of Machinery and Equipment Industries (Abimaq) projects that 2026 will be marked by moderate growth in machinery sales and the need to renew fleets that have become obsolete. According to Elizeu dos Santos, Product Marketing Manager at Valtra, it is crucial that producers take advantage of this opportunity to study the most suitable technologies for their production, those that will yield economic results.

“Profitability is decided by the details, and the technologies applied in the field are important for protecting the farmer's margin. The intelligent use of implements, technologies, inputs, and even fuel can ensure that the producer saves money and obtains a greater financial return from their production,” says Elizeu. 

Fuel cost

Fuel costs weigh heavily on the operating budget. Fleet modernization allows producers to move from less flexible operating systems to intelligent management, where the machine consumes only what is strictly necessary for the task being performed. The continuously variable transmission (CVT), available in tractors such as the Q Series and T Series, optimizes the use of engine power, allowing for fuel savings of an average of 25% to 30% compared to conventional transmissions. "For a producer who operates hundreds of hours per harvest, this difference pays for the investment in technology and shields the operation against the volatility of diesel prices," emphasizes Elizeu.

Economic sustainability also encompasses input savings. For fertilizer application, manual steering can result in an overlap of approximately 4,5% at the headlands. With Valtra Guide and Section Control, this overlap can be reduced to zero. “We're talking about eliminating seed and fertilizer waste. The technology ensures that the product is applied only where needed, without wasting inputs that significantly impact the final cost.” 

Soil compaction

Another crucial point for the 2026 harvest is crop preservation. Soil compaction can reduce future productivity and requires extra expenses for decompaction. Technologies such as Weight Transfer, which distributes the chassis load ensuring that the machine's weight is evenly balanced, are a solution to this problem. “Less compacted soil absorbs water and nutrients better, guaranteeing the productivity of future harvests. Machines with better weight-to-power distribution protect the producer's greatest asset, which is the land. This is true ESG in agricultural practice,” emphasizes Elizeu. 

For Valtra, the start of the year represents the ideal time for producers to recalculate costs and adopt technologies that guarantee long-term financial stability. Through energy efficiency and precision in the field, the brand reaffirms its role as a partner to producers in the pursuit of significant results.