Soybean farmers are awarded by BASF for high productivity

The TOP Soja competition, promoted by BASF, already honors Brazilian soybean farmers who have been production leaders for six harvests, since 2014/2015. The objective is to encourage farmers to adopt profitable sustainable practices to achieve high productivity. In the 2021/22 harvest, BASF awarded the award to 25 farmers from different regions of Brazil [check the list below] due to their outstanding results, with productivity higher than the national average.

To immortalize and honor the farmers participating in TOP Soja, BASF inaugurated the new TOP Soja Hall. The virtual space is hosted at Fazenda BASF, a content platform for agribusiness. “We want the farmers’ legacy to be immortalized in this space. In the 22/23 harvest, BASF will continue alongside farmers to overcome challenges and celebrate champion productivity”, highlights the Senior Marketing Manager for Cultivation and Soy Portfolio, Vitor Bernardes.

The launch of the new Hall and the delivery of tributes to the champion soybean farmers took place in São Paulo, at BASF headquarters. Present at the event, the vice-president of BASF's Agricultural Solutions Division in Brazil, José Munhoz Felippe, highlights the responsibility that global agriculture has in feeding the recent record of 8 billion people on Earth. “At BASF, we have the ambition for our agriculture to prosper, always looking at the balance between productivity, sustainability and the demands of society”, he highlights, congratulating the champion farmers.

And achieving high levels of productivity is no easy task, reinforces the Marketing Director of the Agricultural Solutions Division at BASF, Eduardo Novaes, who mentions the important collaborative work in the field. “BASF’s biggest objective is to help strengthen the legacy of rural producers, because it is the continuity of this legacy that makes Brazilian agriculture continue to grow”, he states.

This idea is shared with champion farmer Elton Zanella, from Campos de Júlio (MT), who reached the mark of 115,16 bags per hectare, the highest productivity in this edition of the competition. According to him, the work he carries out on his property takes into account the reports and experiences of other farmers spread across Brazil: “always follow the example of those who are successful. The producer always seeks to help others. When it’s positive, we look for information, and when it’s negative, we spread it so everyone doesn’t have a problem,” he says.

Also winning the competition, farmer Karl Milla, from Baixa Grande do Ribeiro (PI), recorded 99,92 bags harvested per hectare. One of the secrets of this success, according to the producer, is the constant monitoring of pests and diseases. “The biggest challenge is to be very aware of what is happening in the field to carry out the control you need, when you need it, with the relevant products”, he says. Furthermore, another key point that Milla highlights is the patience required. “Productivity is built over generations”, he points out.

To sign up for TOP Soja

Any BASF customer soybean farmer can register for the TOP Soja competition. Anyone interested should contact the BASF sales representative in their region. Participation is audited based on the results of the Maximum Productivity Challenge of the Soja Brasil Strategic Committee (CESB). The number of entries in the TOP Soja competition has increased year after year. In the last harvest, 150 farmers registered, which represents an increase of 25% compared to the previous competition.

Award methodology

The evaluation of the competition is carried out in 29 regions and appoints a farmer and consultant in each of them. To win, both parties must have achieved the highest productivity in their region.

TOP Soy recorded an average productivity of 85,1 bags per hectare in the 21/22 harvest. The number was equivalent to around 30% more than the national average, which was 50,5 bags per hectare according to Conab.

Those interested in participating in the competition for the 2022/23 harvest can register until April 10, 2023.

21/22 Harvest Winners

• Elton Zanella (MT) - Harvested 115,16 sc/ha

• Rogério Pianezola (GO) - Harvested 103,85 sc/ha

• Roberto Vianna de Abreu (MT) – Harvested 93,75 sc/ha

• Laércio Busato (MG) - Harvested 93,32 sc/ha

• Karl Milla (PI) - Harvested 99,92 sc/ha

• Rafaela Freitas (GO) - Harvested 87,77 sc/ha

• Juliano Henrique Krames Lauxen – Harvested 103,62 sc/ha

• Avelino Ricardo Menegaz (RS) – Harvested 91,72 sc/ha

• João Aguinaldo Tomeleri (PR) - Harvested 94,32 sc/ha

• Júlio Priori (GO) - Harvested 90,14 sc/ha

• Theodorus Swart (SP) – Harvested 106,22 sc/ha

• Agrícola 3 Lagoas (SP) - Harvested 90,49 sc/ha

• Arlindo Romitti (PR) – Harvested 83.62 sc/ha

• Mantiqueira Group (MG) – Harvested 84,44 sc/ha

• Laércio Dalla Vecchia (PR) - Harvested 96,1 sc/ha

• Bertão e Azevedo Agricultural Production (RO) - Harvested 77,79 sc/ha

• Domingos Mocelin (MT) - Harvested 83,22 sc/ha

• Adelino Barbieri (RS) – Harvested 37,78 sc/ha

• Claudir Balzan (MS) – Harvested 78,96 sc/ha

• Diogo Tudela (MG) – Harvested 97,6 sc/ha

• Flavio Schmitt (PR) – Harvested 92,78 sc/ha

• Geovani Weber (RS) – Harvested 108,13 sc/ha

• José Marcio Piassa (MG) – Harvested 97,59 sc/ha

• Sergio Watanabe (MS) – Harvested 92,04 sc/ha

• Egon Milla (PR) – Harvested 114,55 sc/ha