The 11th edition of Agritour 3Tentos took place between August 10 and 20, 2018. The group of 29 people was composed of producers from all regions of the 3Tentos area, especially the Ibirubá Unit, where besides the winner of the 4th Producer +, we count on the presence of Clube Amigos da Terra.
Driven by the start of 3Tentos' activities in the southern half of Rio Grande do Sul, we redesigned the traditional itinerary of Agritour 3Tentos. Instead of just going through soybean and corn crops in Corn Belt, this time we started our journey through the southern states of the Delta, Mississippi and Arkansas region, visiting farms with a focus on rice and beef cattle. This year's trip has evidenced so much comparisons that we can draw with the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the producing region of the United States.
The southern states of the USA very much resemble the southern half of the RS, either by topography, soil condition, water resources or possible crops to work with. By effectively controlling the entry and exit of water into crops, producers in the Delta region rotate rice, soybean, cotton and corn crops. The farmers of this region produce with mastery, using techniques of drainage, planting in chameleon and irrigation by politubes. The Agritour group counted on the participation of producers from Camaquã-RS who were able to exchange ideas and experiences with American farmers.
Following visits in the southern US, the group visited the research centers of BASF and Monsanto, already entering the Corn Belt in the American Midwest. It was possible to verify closely the work that these companies are carrying out with a view to the best solutions for world agriculture.
We continue our journey through the state of Illinois, where for the first time we visit a farm that does cattle rearing and finishing in a confinement system. Activity carried out by some participants of the group and also growing in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, was the subject of discussion of the group in the dinners and travel of displacement between one visit and another.
Closing the technical script we visited Haase Farm and Klein Farms, both farms present since the first edition of Agritour. We verified the excellent conditions of the soy and corn crops, as well as the infrastructure inside and outside the gates, which always impresses everyone.
To end the trip, the group had a lecture about the grain market directly from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) offered by INTL FCStone. Even operated electronically these days, producers have had the opportunity to get to know the structures of the most important center of agricultural commodities.
The 11th edition of Agritour 3Tentos is marked by an innovative and personalized itinerary to the group of partners of the company. The trip next year is already being planned and we will be releasing details about the 2019 roadmap soon!
