Pasture Production Tops Priorities In Central Brazil
BRAZIL – Pasture production is the biggest challenge to many farmers in central Brazil, a regional taskforce has learned.
21 January 2014
1 minute read
The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) has reported progress made with dairy farmers following a recent conference looking at networking and knowledge transfer.
The Midwest Regional Centre for Embrapa Dairy Cattle ran last week, attended by Carla Costa, an Embrapa farming consultant who has learned where farms need to improve.
Mrs Costa said that grassland management is difficult because properties in central Brazil, near Goinia, are small.
Dairy dominates the west of the state, with many farms being small-scale family operations.
Through the $36,000 a year Embrapa extension programme and regional producer events, researchers plan to unearth what inefficiencies exist in the region's industry and increase milk output.
However, Mrs Costa acknowledged this represents a challenge.
“Farmers are very suspicious and we care about creating commitment from our rural communities,” she said. “Trust is necessary to do this.”
She added that Embrapa is gathering information and strengthening understanding of the region’s dairy industry.
The scope of the project is comprehensive. Work extends across milk quality, carcass disposal as well as alternative feeds such as cactus, cassava and Gliricidia.
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