Valuable Insights into Brazilian Agriculture

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Observations from Matt Hughes, Shirley, Ill., and Bill Wykes, Yorkville, Ill.

Matt Hughes
As our mission comes to an end, I can say it has been a good trip with a lot of similarities to what we do in Illinois.  There is a big difference in the size and diversity of operations between Mato Grosso and Parana.  There is more diversity and livestock in Parana on older, more established farms that are closer to markets.  Transportation is the number one issue in Mato Grosso.  They are trying to integrate other things in Mato Grosso to deal with the transportation problem and get more transportation options developed.

I think they are dealing with infrastructure in a better way than we are.  They are making progress and will catch us eventually.  They have money to invest to expand ports, while we can't come up with enough money to maintain our rivers.  They know agriculture is where they have prosperity.  We are struggling to be profitable and keep our agriculture competitive.

One observation overall is about where we are headed.  We need these acres to help feed the world.  Brazil has a lot of acres to be developed, and right now it is artificially conserved for perception, not true environmental reasons.  They need to react more to market situations and speak out for what is right and not cave into social and political conditions.  From our standpoint, we can't let go of the democratic process that makes us great.  Our independent nature serves us well and we can't lose that.

Bill Wykes
The trip has gone well, and we have seen a lot of different agricultures in Brazil.  We have seen large, flat farms in Mato Grosso and small farms similar in scope to Illinois in Parana.

Looking back, they definitely have advanced their technology and cleared a lot of new ground.  Some farms are anywhere from 10-35 years old, even in Parana, where farmers started in the 1950s and 1960s.  They have definitely come to the U.S. and learned from us, and then gone back to Brazil to adapt what they learned to their own systems.  We are all using biotech, no-till and other similar practices.  One thing that is unique is that they grow eucalpytus.  They also harvest their beans wet and dry them all and burn wood to run their dryers. 

Illinois and all U.S. farmers remain at the forefront of agriculture.  We can maintain that position and introduce new technology and science to the best of our ability so we remain the most highly profitable, efficient and sustainable farmers in the world.