High improvement in crop performance, quality grains and sustainable agriculture is the combination that gave rise to the National Challenge for Maximum Soy Productivity. Created ten years ago by the Brazilian Soy Strategic Committee (CESB), the project has had BASF as one of its supporters since its inception. The provocation to farmers across the country consisted of the dissemination of technology to increase productivity without increasing the planted area, and exceeding the mark of 80 bags per hectare. This target was exceeded in almost 60% of the areas in this edition, as the best result exceeded 127 bags per hectare.
The winner of the competition this year was newcomer Gabriel Bonato, who for ten years has shared with his father, Egídio Bonato, the management of a cultivated area of 116 hectares, in the city of Pontão (RS). The average soybean productivity on the property was 87 bags per hectare, a rate that has been growing with each harvest. In the 2012/2013 season, for example, the average was 74 bags/hectare. This evolution made him enjoy the activity and became a stimulus for Gabriel to enroll in the Agronomy Course – he is halfway through the course – at the Centro de Ensino Superior Riograndense (Cesurg), in the city of Sarandi, where he lives.
Gabriel says that the use of technology and careful handling have been decisive for this evolution. “We have been using precision agriculture for some time, doing soil analysis every year, and to have this level of performance we need to keep the plants healthy,” he explains. Hence the beginning of the partnership with BASF. “We are increasingly dedicated to the quality of phytosanitary management on our partners’ farms”, reinforces Hélio Cabral Costa, the company’s Crop Protection/Soy Marketing Manager. “Gabriel used our portfolio, following the correct usage guidelines. And, which is also essential, there was a financial return”, adds Hélio.
BASF has increased soybean protection with insecticides and fungicides. At the beginning, the seeds were “shielded” with the Standak® Top insecticide, preventing the attack of important pests and soil diseases. The application of Nomolt® 150 prevented the action of important caterpillars, both at the beginning of plant development and during the reproductive phase. During this period, between development, grain filling and production, the fungicides Ativum® and Versatilis® also entered. This combination provided more conditions for the crop to express its potential. “The plants showed healthier leaves, with better development and more productivity”, declares Gabriel, who continues: “I hope you continue researching to have more news. I’m always looking for that.”
As far as BASF depends, according to Hélio, the producer's expectations will be met, as being a research and development company, the priority is to offer solutions suited to the needs of its customers. “We are an innovation company, and it is our responsibility to seek the best solution, aiming for correct management, associated with good agronomic practices. But the farmer’s participation in this process is also necessary to achieve the desired results, it is a joint responsibility”, he explains.
According to Gabriel, the incentive to participate in the CESB Challenge Competition came from the BASF team, through the service provided by Ricardo Freitas and Eduardo Augusto Oliveira. The area chosen for the competition, measuring 2,57 hectares, had been undergoing a soil improvement process for six years. “We took the opportunity to use the best in terms of inputs, both seeds and fertilizers and phytosanitary products”, says Gabriel, who sees the CESB event as a great stimulus for producers. “It ends up being an incentive for us to invest and be recognized even more for our work. Furthermore, there is an important exchange of information between farmers that turns into continuous learning.”
| CESB Challenge regional champions BASF technology also contributed to the good performance of other competition winners. South and National Winner: Gabriel Bonato BASF products: Standak® Top, Ativum®, Versatilis® and Nomolt® 150. North-Northeast Winner: Marcelino Flores BASF products: Standak® Top, Gelfix 5, Orkestra® SC, Ativum® and Nomolt® 150. Southeast Winner: Guimarães Family BASF products: Standak® Top, Orkestra® SC, Ativum®, Spot® SC, Nomolt® 150 and Pirate®. Irrigated Winner: Vitor Ceolin BASF products: Standak® Top, Orkestra® SC, Ativum®, Versatilis®, Nomolt® 150. |
Exclusively agricultural use. Apply only the recommended doses. Dispose of packaging and product residues correctly. Include other control methods in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program when available and appropriate. Temporary restrictions in the state of Paraná: Standak® Top for targets Colletotrichum gossypii, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum e Lasiodiplodia theobromae in Cotton, Pythium spp. in Corn, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp., Colletotrichum graminicola, Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium spp., Phoma spp. And Pythium spp. in Sorghum and Pythium spp. in Wheat; and spot® SC to target Corynespora cassiicola in soybeans. MAPA registration: Standak® Top nº 01209. Ativum® No. 11216; Orchestra® SC nº 08813; pirate® No. 05898; Nomolt® 150 No. 01393; Spot® SC nº 0516, Versatilis® No. 001188593.
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