Paraguay – Harvest progress at Salitre Cue farm (February 2018)
Rice harvest has begun at the farm and so far, over 600 hectares have been harvested with a yield of 7.5 t/ha (dry).
Drying reduces grain moisture content to a safe level for storage. It is the most critical operation after harvesting the crop. When rice is harvested, it will contain up to 25% moisture. High moisture level during storage can lead to grain discoloration, encourage development of molds, and increase the likelihood of attack from pests.
Video: Cleaning, roughing, split and grain drying
Delays in drying, incomplete or ineffective process are reducing grain quality and result in losses. To this aim, we have dryers with a daily capacity of 600 tons to address our needs. After drying process is completed, our paddy rice is stored in our 3 silos by index of quality and awaiting for optimal conditions for best prices.
Meanwhile, we continue the harvest of our various plots as around 55% of the sown area for this cycle remains to be harvest.
Uruguay – Farmers launch massive protest against the Uruguayan government (January 23, 2018).
Uruguayan farmers have decided spontaneously to voice their anger in the street against the government during the January recess. They strongly protest against the government to demand improvements in conditions to promote profitability in the agricultural sector. Farmers are suffering from prices increase of most crucial inputs such as fuel, power, water, etc, establishes administratively by the government, which make several farm activities unprofitable.
The rural sector is demanding lower production costs as well as measures to resolve the country’s lagging exchange rate. A cheap US dollar in Pesos, makes Uruguay a very expensive costly country to produce. Furthermore, the Uruguayan government needs also revenue to lower the deficit and retain the investment grade: so far it has been done mainly by increasing taxes directly or indirectly through the goods and services provided by government monopolies.
Uruguayan agricultural producers demonstrate massively on January 23, 2018, joined also by industry and workers.
Uruguay – La Niña is back, and already impacts the region with temperatures above normal and scarce rains (January 2018).
Crops activities are currently suffering from dryer weather conditions for a number of weeks in Southern Brazil, northern Argentina and Uruguay, driven by high temperature and limited rainfall.
In some areas, it has deteriorated to the point that soybean or corn sowing have been suspended, waiting for additional moisture.
For our own grain production performed in Uruguay: Soybean #1 planted by mid-November is doing fine so far at Santa Maria (over 430 has) while the situation is getting more complicated at La Esperanza (over 700 has) due to lack of water during pollination.
Furthermore, we just completed second-crop sowing of soybean (over 370 has) and of corn (280 has) in Santa Maria after being delayed various time due soil conditions (lack of moisture and rain to insure germination).
Those conditions have the potential to reduce yields and quality of grains. If the situation persists, cattle operation might also be affected (pasture contraction). Rains are expected to improve conditions.
“Uruguay climate report December 2017 and forecast 2018, published by INIA”
Uruguay – Update on La Esperanza farm activities (December 2017).
Crops activities: Over 710 hectares are currently sowed with soybean. We are targeting a yield of 2,5 tons/ha.
We are also going to sow 70 hectares with sorghum which should produce 330 tons of grain. We have given for rent 400 hectares to a third party for rice production.
Cattle activities: The entire herd is in very good shape and has access to dense pasture. For the current cycle, we are expecting to produce 530 tons of meat with an average herd of 4,000 heads.
We will have around 1,590 cows in spring service. Autumn service of heifers took place (insemination of 380 heads) and we obtained a pregnancy ratio close to 92%.
Uruguay – Update on Santa Maria farm activities (December 2017).
Winter crops: 100 hectares planted with barley have been harvested so far and 264 hectares are remaining.
The 40 hectares planted with OAT are almost harvested. Our OAT production is directly delivered to a Uruguayan malt house with which we are cooperating since years.
Summer crops (Soybean & Corn): 500 hectares are planted with soybean #1, of which 425 hectares have already been sowed. We are targeting a yield of 2,8 tons/ha. We will then double–crop soybean over 400 hectares.
As for corn, we are going to start soon with the sowing of 290 hectares. We are targeting a yield of 5,5 tons/ha for this crop.
Cattle activities: The entire herd is in very good shape and has access to dense pasture as you can see. For this cycle, we are targeting to produce 475 tons of meat with an average herd of 3,100 heads.
Currently, we have around 920 cows in spring service.
