Brasil
EUA
Paraguai
Where there was no water stress, the plants developed better and show satisfactory productivity.
At least 11% of the soybean planted area has already been harvested in Rio Grande do Sul. While some regions show good productive potential, most of the state—especially the Central-West region—has suffered from drought throughout the entire crop cycle. In the Western Border and Missões regions, the drought’s impact was even more severe, resulting in yields below 10 bags per hectare, according to the National Supply Company (Conab) Bulletin.
Not all regions were affected by the drought. In the Cotribá region—one of the most traditional cooperatives in Rio Grande do Sul—the quality of the grain received is within standard, according to rural manager Luciano Roewer, responsible for the storage area. According to him, the cooperative invests annually in employee training to ensure grain quality during storage.
“To maintain good quality, we follow all the proper care during drying, storage, and aeration of the grains, including pest management,” says Roewer. He adds that in the past three years, Cotribá has reduced storage losses, improved grain quality, and especially standardized the sampling and analysis methodology for both intake and shipment.
Central-West – In the regions most affected by drought, such as the Central-West of Rio Grande do Sul, productivity, grain weight, and quality are significantly below expectations. In these areas, it is common to find grains with wrinkled seed coats and greenish coloring—signs of water stress experienced by the plants.
Given this scenario, producers have turned their attention to one of the key factors directly affecting profitability: moisture control at harvest.
Although not a complex task, determining the ideal moisture point requires the use of appropriate technologies, from the field to delivery at cooperatives, storage units, or trading companies.
To preserve soybean quality and increase profitability, it is recommended to harvest with grain moisture between 13% and 14%. “When the grain is harvested with moisture above the ideal level, the producer must perform artificial drying. This results in financial discounts, as the buyer deducts the weight corresponding to the excess moisture,” explains agronomist Roney Smolareck, technical sales manager at Motomco, a reference company in grain moisture control equipment.
“Having the right tools on the farm to perform monitoring is essential for accurate results and to protect the value of the product,” he reinforces.
Technology
Aware of the challenges in the field—especially amid climate uncertainty—Motomco is launching the CONNECT999, a portable and high-precision grain moisture meter. The device enables fast moisture content measurement in various types of grains, delivering reliable results within seconds.
With a robust design and intuitive interface, the CONNECT assists in decision-making during both harvest and storage. “It’s the best choice for moisture measurement, providing precise results in less than eight seconds,” says Manoella Rodrigues da Silva from Motomco’s Marketing Department.
The new device is suitable for both small and large producers, as well as agronomists from cooperatives, agricultural retailers, and industry professionals.
Among its standout features, the Motomco CONNECT999 offers a user-friendly interface managed through an exclusive smartphone app, making user interaction simpler and enabling sharing of measurements via WhatsApp, SMS, or email. “A reliable and properly calibrated moisture meter provides greater security for the producer when negotiating their product,” Manoella affirms.
Nationwide – According to Conab, 76.4% of Brazil’s soybean crop has been harvested. In Mato Grosso (MT), the harvest is nearing completion with consistently high yields. In Paraná (PR), harvesting has reached 81% of the cultivated area, with good results. In Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), rainfall has halted harvest operations in some areas. In Goiás (GO) and Minas Gerais (MG), the last harvested fields show reduced productivity due to February’s dry spell. In Santa Catarina (SC), the lack of rainfall is affecting the development of the second crop, especially in the western region. In Bahia (BA), the harvest is advancing rapidly with good productivity; however, late-planted fields have seen reduced yield potential due to lower rainfall. In Maranhão (MA), harvest is nearly complete in the south and has started in the west. In Piauí (PI), water deficit in some areas has negatively impacted crop potential. In Pará (PA), crops in Paragominas and Santarém are showing good development.
