Brazilian Farmer Battles Nematodes with Crop Rotation
Mar 04, 2012
The 10,000 acres of Evandro Peixoto’s farm are in the shadow of a newly opened sugarcane ethanol plant. Named Fazenda Ancora, the farm is located in the state of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul.
However, Peixoto is committed to growing his crops in the rotation he thinks is best for the land, and that excludes sugarcane. His daughter, Marjorie, has returned to the family farm business.
He grows two crops every year divided into the following rotations: soybeans followed by corn; soybeans followed by crotalaria; and corn followed by sunflowers.
The crotalaria is planted as a control agent for soybean cyst nematodes and lesion nematodes. The cover crop can help control the lesion nematodes by reducing pressure by 75%.
It is harvested for seed, which Peixoto sells to other farmers looking for the same solution.
In mid-February the farm was harvesting its first crop and planting the second crop for the year. That requires many machines in the field, and Peixoto takes an interesting step to help his employees feel a strong sense of ownership in their work.
Every machine has the employee’s name who operates it placed on the equipment. And the newest piece of machinery goes to the newest employee.
The equipment is configured for the environment. It rains every day, so seed hoppers are tarped to protect their contents from any sudden rain showers.
Also notice the wide spacing of the depth wheels on the planter.
