Paraguay – Update on activities performed at Salitre Cue farm (December 2016)
Rice cultivation: The average sowing period took place during the optimum date for the crops (from September 13 to October 15).
October and November were months of vegetative development of the crop. During those months, our region has register lower temperatures lower than normal. Due to this factor, we could observe that rice plants are less developed as they should be.
December is the month of definition of yield potential, subject to how temperatures and solar radiation behave.
There are no rainfall deficits or low river level observed so far, and our artificial lake has enough water reserve until beginning of January.
We estimate that harvest will start this year by January 20, 2017.
Soybean cultivation (test campaign for diversification purposes): The crop has been planted during the optimal period (end of September).
October and November were months of heavy rainfall (we record 304 mm and 185 mm accumulated water during those months). Excess water is hurting this crop development, in opposition with rice, so as lower temperatures affects development and optimum growth.
Good soil drainage is a priority for this crop, as it is surrounded by plots of irrigated rice, where the sub-surface layer is high. So we registered some flooding situation in some sectors planted with soy. Those area of crops are lost – 10 to 15 hectares of cultivated area.
In December, we need to register high temperatures and no heavy rainfalls events. It is key for a good development of the plants as they will be in their reproductive period (definition of yield).
Uruguay – Review of activities performed at La Esperanza farm (November 2016)
Cattle operation (4 250 heads): Autumn service was complicated as natural pastures were affected by heavy rainfall and floods of the river which had originated in its Brazilian border. Heifers body condition before service was not the best which lead to a lower pregnancy rate than expected. Weather conditions improved since and meadows have recovery their forage production, improving general conditions of the cattle. Rearing heifers and steers are been fed with corn and soybean supplementation.
Agriculture activities: We finally decided not to sow corn as planned (304 has budgeted) and return to a more stable crop rotation : soybean / soybean – Pasture on the plots with the highest AG potential in order to improve forage resources and quality for cattle operation.
Soybean: So far, we are facing a very dry period which lead us to interrupt seeding process some days. Today, 330 hectares of soybean has been sowed, around 40% of the plan.
Rice: was sowed during the optimal period (323 has planted vs 328 has budgeted) and irrigation of the fields will start in November.
In addition, some new internal roads have been developed in-house to allow better services and manoeuvres for our operations.
Paraguay – Illustration of soybean development at Salitre Cue (November 2016)
During the current cycle and for future diversification purposes, we are testing soybean cultivation. As you can see below, the plants are developing well.
Our main production there – rice, is so far developing also well. We need now more sunny days (light) and high temperature so that the plant continue its optimal development. We have registered 300 mm of rain in October and so far 60 mm in November.
Paraguay – Illustration of irrigation by gravity performed at Salitre Cue farm (October 2016)
Below you can see that we started irrigation of the fields, in particular the section of the farm irrigated by gravity (first time under this method). Overall the system is worked well even if some details have to be adjusted.
Uruguay – Winter crops development at Santa Maria farm (October 2016).
Below you will see our barley at Santa Maria which is currently in very good condition. For the 2016/2017 cycle, 288 hectares of barley were seeded with an expected yield of 3.5 tons per hectare.
