-Argentina
is 40 million people but produces enough to feed 400 million
-While Argentina
may be best know to Canadians for wheat production, that was far from the focus
of what the local organizers choose to focus on. There was really only one word;
“SOY” Wheat is being used in rotation,
with soy seeded into it and then corn the in following year, but even this is
not occurring as often as some would like it to. When prices are good, farmers sow soy on top
of soy.
-Argentina
is pinning hopes on soy and, particularly, China. Although China has crush capacity, Argentinean
experts argue that the shorter distance of the raw soy beans to the crush
plants and then to ports in that country allow for transportation cost savings
and therefore a cheaper product.
-The Argentinean Secretary of the Ministry of Ag is not
afraid of GMO and in fact he said with pride that he just signed papers to
approve the 29th GMO variety in the country. While parts of Europe are definitely a market
for Argentina, the message came through that Argentina is doing no till and GMO
farming to feed that world and ensure supply for new markets like China. In parts of Europe
where the focus is on non-GMO, this could be an issue, but the Minister wasn’t apologetic
when asked. When I spoke with others in BA, they were not so hot on GMO but
this was no scientific survey.
-While there was a dairy and a livestock tour. Much of the
time was spent around precision farming.
-Only in Argentina
can two journalists who are married and 80 years old keep their daily radio
show and also operate an orange and peach farm that specializes in Agro tourism.
Although many Canadian farm writers also farm, I can’t imagine Peter Mansbridge
running a farm.
-No till is gaining in popularity. It reduces soil erosion
and also cuts down on cost as you don’t have to spend fuel on the land as
often. Fuel is a major cost in Argentina.
-Brazil
and Argentina
have a symbiotic relationship—each country recognizing that they need the
other, but with little love loss.
-The economist says world trade talks are dead and will be
replaced by bilateral agreements.
-The Argentinean Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture
says farm consolidation is part of what the current administration wants to
see, and is in favour of keeping export taxes.
Farmers that we heard from say it is a problem for sure
because the taxes cut their profit margins, but the secretary offered no concession
in his speech and the cab driver says farmers and land owners are wealthy and
can afford to pay the taxes to help support public works. Another theory,
however unproven, is that the government uses the export taxes to help keep
other industries such as car makers in business. I was told that in the city of
BA, many of the cars on the street
are built in Argentina.
-From a Argentine government perspective, the four pillars
for better agriculture as no till, crop rotation, biotech and pesticide
stewardship and precision agriculture. 12% of land in Argentina
is used for crops. The average yield from main crops has doubled in 20 years on
the same land base due to genetics, fertilizer and no till. There is a belief
that fertilizer use can grow and continue to produce results.
No comments:
Post a Comment