An Argentinian Agronomist Shares How OneSoil Helps Identify Problems Among Thousands of Hectares
Reading time—10 minutes
Ignacio Dorado on using OneSoil Scouting
to monitor his clients fields.
to monitor his clients fields.
Ignacio Dorado assists farmers throughout the entire agricultural cycle, from crop planning to harvesting. His clients' fields vary from 100 to 3000 hectares in area. With such vast amounts of land to cover, evaluating the crops' condition remotely is an essential element. That's precisely what the OneSoil Scouting app helps him do.
Ignacio Dorado assists farmers throughout the entire agricultural cycle, from crop planning to harvesting. His clients' fields vary from 100 to 3000 hectares in area. With such vast amounts of land to cover, evaluating the crops' condition remotely is an essential element. That's precisely what the OneSoil Scouting app helps him do.
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Scouting and notes
Monitor plant vegetation and add notes for field problem areas. Both in the mobile app for Android and iOS and the web app.
— Tell us, what are your duties and responsibilities?
I’m an agricultural engineer, and I assist in crop growth and monitoring and everything related to pests, diseases, and weeds. I’ve worked in agriculture for over 20 years now.
— Can you give us a brief description of the agricultural situation in the region where you live?
I live in Los Toldos, a city in the Buenos Aires region. It’s situated in an agricultural region we call pampa húmeda (Humid Pampas). Soybeans is the region’s main crop, but we also grow corn, wheat, and sunflowers. On top of that, we breed cattle.
I’m an agricultural engineer, and I assist in crop growth and monitoring and everything related to pests, diseases, and weeds. I’ve worked in agriculture for over 20 years now.
— Can you give us a brief description of the agricultural situation in the region where you live?
I live in Los Toldos, a city in the Buenos Aires region. It’s situated in an agricultural region we call pampa húmeda (Humid Pampas). Soybeans is the region’s main crop, but we also grow corn, wheat, and sunflowers. On top of that, we breed cattle.
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The mascot of the OneSoil blog
Pampa húmeda is a 600,000 square-kilometer ecoregion of prairie land located in east-central Argentina. The area’s ample rainfall (approximately 900 mm per year on average) and temperate climate endowed it with world-class agricultural and breeding capabilities.
— Is agriculture profitable in your region?
Argentinian policy is unique. Our government taxes farmers on exports. Unlike in the rest of the world, Argentinian farmers have to pay an export tax on all the wheat, soybeans, and corn they produce. Currently, the tax on soybeans can be as much as 33% of the crop’s total value. The tax is smaller for grains, but the greater distance to the port can diminish some crops' profitability.
The farmer doesn’t have any other option but to accept the rules of the game. In recent years, the preference was to grow crops that cause fewer production risks and costs. Some farmers had to abandon crop rotation, which damaged the soil.
Argentinian policy is unique. Our government taxes farmers on exports. Unlike in the rest of the world, Argentinian farmers have to pay an export tax on all the wheat, soybeans, and corn they produce. Currently, the tax on soybeans can be as much as 33% of the crop’s total value. The tax is smaller for grains, but the greater distance to the port can diminish some crops' profitability.
The farmer doesn’t have any other option but to accept the rules of the game. In recent years, the preference was to grow crops that cause fewer production risks and costs. Some farmers had to abandon crop rotation, which damaged the soil.
The soil of pampa húmeda is principally chernozem—deep, black, and very fertile
— Who are your usual clients?
My clients are typically medium and large producers. I work with farmers who plant on 3,000 hectares, while others work on around 500 hectares or more. When you use other production models — like those in Europe, for example — you can see that the area is really extensive. The average area of my clients' fields is between 100 and 200 hectares.
Local farmers are willing to reinvest in implementing technology that allows them to have very good yields. Besides, they’re in a pretty good position thanks to our region’s climate and soil.
— You mentioned that you specialize in monitoring pests, diseases, and weeds. What are the most typical problems you face?
My job is to monitor pests. Usually, I follow up during the whole growing season. In other words, I check the situation every week. I start before sowing and go all the way to the harvesting season. I go to every field and take samples of existing pests. Usually, depending on the year, we have a problem with Lepidopteran pests and weeds.
Recently, the weeds have been causing much more problems than the pests, and are more widespread. These days, we have more technologies to control pests. In contrast, we started to see many new weeds pop up that are resistant to the chemicals we usually use. That’s why they’re the limiting factor during production planning.
— What other problems and challenges do you and your clients face in your job?
Due to the fields' large areas we work with, it’s very important to have a tool that offers satellite images to track crop development. Many times, if you don’t have a broad perspective on the field’s condition, a lot of things slip through the cracks.
My clients are typically medium and large producers. I work with farmers who plant on 3,000 hectares, while others work on around 500 hectares or more. When you use other production models — like those in Europe, for example — you can see that the area is really extensive. The average area of my clients' fields is between 100 and 200 hectares.
Local farmers are willing to reinvest in implementing technology that allows them to have very good yields. Besides, they’re in a pretty good position thanks to our region’s climate and soil.
— You mentioned that you specialize in monitoring pests, diseases, and weeds. What are the most typical problems you face?
My job is to monitor pests. Usually, I follow up during the whole growing season. In other words, I check the situation every week. I start before sowing and go all the way to the harvesting season. I go to every field and take samples of existing pests. Usually, depending on the year, we have a problem with Lepidopteran pests and weeds.
Recently, the weeds have been causing much more problems than the pests, and are more widespread. These days, we have more technologies to control pests. In contrast, we started to see many new weeds pop up that are resistant to the chemicals we usually use. That’s why they’re the limiting factor during production planning.
— What other problems and challenges do you and your clients face in your job?
Due to the fields' large areas we work with, it’s very important to have a tool that offers satellite images to track crop development. Many times, if you don’t have a broad perspective on the field’s condition, a lot of things slip through the cracks.
Here's what the vegetation index, notes, and spraying planner look like in the OneSoil Scouting app
— Speaking of tools… How long have you used OneSoil?
I've been using it for about a year. I was looking for a source of satellite images online. The samples have a margin of error and don't offer an overall picture of the fields' condition. But, that's just what OneSoil Scouting let me do. Knowing the vegetation index (we calculate the NDVI index using satellite images—OneSoil) gives me an idea ahead of time on where I should look for a problem.
— Which other OneSoil features do you find useful?
One of the features I use the most is tracking vegetation with NDVI imagery. I also use the app to measure the area. The weather forecast is also good and pretty accurate. The information on the best aspects of applying agrochemicals is also really good (you can find Spraying time in the "Insights" tab—OneSoil).
It's very practical in terms of having a chronological record for a particular field. Moreover, OneSoil spares me trips to the fields because I can monitor a specific crop and check its condition every week and take action, if necessary.
I've been using it for about a year. I was looking for a source of satellite images online. The samples have a margin of error and don't offer an overall picture of the fields' condition. But, that's just what OneSoil Scouting let me do. Knowing the vegetation index (we calculate the NDVI index using satellite images—OneSoil) gives me an idea ahead of time on where I should look for a problem.
— Which other OneSoil features do you find useful?
One of the features I use the most is tracking vegetation with NDVI imagery. I also use the app to measure the area. The weather forecast is also good and pretty accurate. The information on the best aspects of applying agrochemicals is also really good (you can find Spraying time in the "Insights" tab—OneSoil).
It's very practical in terms of having a chronological record for a particular field. Moreover, OneSoil spares me trips to the fields because I can monitor a specific crop and check its condition every week and take action, if necessary.
Interview conducted by Olya Polevikova and Nadia Borontsova
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