Lag in storing grains reignites alert in the field

The state of Mato Grosso (MT) alone accounted for 16,8% of the R$470,5 billion in the value of Brazilian agricultural production in 2020, with a production of around 80 million tons of soybeans and corn, according to recently released data by IBGE. This great productivity has generated each year a major storage problem with the lack of space to store the grains. According to the Brazilian Association of Soy Producers (Aprosoja), the State has 22,2% of the storage capacity installed in the country, with 2.211 units, which together hold 38 million tons. Even so, as the entity highlights, only 30% of these structures are owned by rural producers.

The situation is further aggravated by the terrible flow and transportation costs, which means that the farmer often has to “hold” the production for longer in a safe place before selling it. That's when he needs to find alternatives to solve the problem. One of the options currently available on the market is the use of bag silos, a high-technology polyethylene structure used and installed on the farm itself.

The main function of the structure is to be an oxygen barrier, forming a hermetically closed, anaerobic environment, preventing the development of insects such as woodworms and pests, maintaining the quality of the stored product. Dry and wet grains, as well as pasture and grass, can be used.

Store wherever you want

One of the main advantages of using silo bags is highlighted by Rose Branco, commercial manager at Silox, a company with the Nortène seal, which manufactures this type of structure. “The producer can install the solution anywhere on the farm. In MT, for example, many of them do not cultivate on a single property and can move around and choose where they want to store them. With the traditional metal silo, in addition to the high investment, once you have chosen the location, if for some reason, over the years, production increases in another unit, it becomes complicated to carry out the logistics of transporting the grain to where it went. installed the structure”, explains the professional.

With the silo-bag the ease is great, every day, month, year, if the producer chooses to change the storage location, he puts the boxes with the structure material in a vehicle and takes them to another place. “With this tool, he can segment the products, separate them by batch, by production date and even by grain quality, even scaling production. There is a freedom that he does not have in relation to other options”, ponders the manager.

more benefits

Another interesting point about this technology is the issue of cost-benefit ratio. With the constant increase in input prices, especially on the international market, another advantage is the possibility for the producer to store them in the silo-bag. “The cost is much lower when compared to a metal silo. Furthermore, we can deliver between 10 and 15 days to your farm or chosen location, while most metal silo manufacturers work within 200 to 400 days due to lack of raw materials”, highlights the manager.

With this quick delivery, anywhere in Brazil, the Silox silo-bag meets exactly the producer's urgent need, especially for those who have an unforeseen event. “Unfortunately we still see cases where corn and soybeans remain on the ground or stored in trucks. This happens because sometimes the producer has an estimate, but if he produces more than what he had planned, there is no space”, says Rose. In other words, with the silo-bag he can quickly have a plan B, by contacting a distributor in the nearest region, whether in MT or in another state.

It is also important to highlight the storage capacity, as the Silox product stores up to five tons more than market competitors and does not generate additional maintenance costs. The maximum size sold is 100 meters, which holds up to approximately 340 tons, equivalent to 5.400 60kg bags. “Our warranty is 18 to 24 months. We also send a repair tape in case you have any external problems with the product. Just follow what is in the manual, respect the maximum stretch limit and choose a strategic and clean place”, concludes the professional.