Winner of the National Maximum Productivity Challenge talks about strategies for increasing production

The 2020/2021 harvest was the fifth in the history of young producer Eduardo Burck de Sousa Costa. The first under irrigation pivots. With technology, dynamism and a lot of work, the production of Estância Capororóca, in the municipalities of Arroio Grande and Pedro Osório (RS), has already made history as the most productive irrigated soybean crop in the country.

The farmer is only 28 years old and is the third generation of producers in the family. In 2017, after graduating in Agronomy from the Eliseu Maciel Faculty of Agronomy, he took charge of the soybean farm. From the beginning, Eduardo projected a visionary and dynamic look at the farm's production.

In 2020, seeking increasingly better results, the producer innovated. It was time to increase the family business and optimize productivity. For this mission, a great ally: the central pivot. Initially, prospects for investment in irrigation were slim. Determined, the young producer invested in technology with the certainty of reaping good results.

“In the beginning, when I brought up the idea, the family resisted, especially when evaluating the investments and the logistical difficulties. They were a little skeptical about the possible results. But, I assured and received very good support from them so that I could take my first steps in irrigation”, he recalls, adding: “Today, they recognize the value of technology.”

The three pivots installed on the farm were purchased at the Valley stand at ExpoDireto, in Não-Me-Toque (RS), in March 2020. The equipment did not arrive alone. The producer invested at the same time in a weather station and the Valley Scheduling technical platform.

“Without certainty, this embedded technology guaranteed success. It was decisive. The algorithms pointed out by the system supported all our decisions. We knew our soil and the plant’s water needs at each stage. We knew how and how much to irrigate,” he explains.

With all the technology and the support of valuable data and technical information, the production of the property's soybean crops went through the roof. Eduardo guaranteed an average productivity of 30 bags/ha more in the irrigated area compared to the rainfed area, reaching 117,41 bags/ha. In addition to making the family proud, such growth brought an important achievement: first place in the irrigated category of the National Maximum Productivity Challenge, promoted by the Brazilian Soy Strategic Committee (Cesb), which had more than 5400 registered producers.

In the eyes of the producer, performance is the result of a series of factors that are rooted in technology and dynamic work. “We really didn't expect it. We were surprised and we are very happy. The secret is to do the basics well: planning, team and execution, combined, of course, with technology”, he comments.

Currently, the property has 910 hectares planted with soybeans and just over 350 are irrigated. The expectation is to further expand investments in irrigation. “We certainly want to expand this area: only then will we achieve sustainability in the business. For the future, what we want is to beat our own record”, he establishes, ensuring that he plans to continue the partnership with Valley.

The challenge

In 2008, the Soja Brasil Strategic Committee – a non-profit entity focused on research and development in favor of national soybean farming – created the National Maximum Productivity Challenge with the aim of inspiring and boosting Brazilian agribusiness, given its vital participation in growing global food demand.

Annually, the Challenge recognizes the best soybean growers in the country based on production per harvest. The award encompasses irrigated and rainfed production systems. Crops around Brazil are analyzed and audited by the Committee's technical teams. More than 34 thousand producers have already participated in the Challenge.

Over the course of 14 editions, the Challenge was recognized as an important initiative for national agribusiness, disseminating knowledge among producers and technicians, reinforcing the immense productive potential of the crop and giving soybean farmers the laurels of their tireless work.