In the heart of Argentina's fertile Pampas lies Venado Tuerto, a region celebrated for its vast, productive farmlands. This area, located in the southwest of Santa Fe province, is a powerhouse for corn (maize) production, a crop that plays a vital role in Argentina's economy.
While the region is blessed with good soil and timely rains that promise high yields, farming here is not without its challenges. Farmers and contractors must navigate fluctuating market prices, rising costs of seeds and fertilizers, and the pressure to harvest efficiently during short windows of good weather. This is the story of how a local agricultural contractor embraced precision agriculture and met these challenges with the help of FJDynamics' autosteering technology.
Venado Tuerto: A Major Corn Production Area in Argentina
Venado Tuerto is part of Argentina's humid Pampas, a region renowned for its rich soils that create an ideal environment for corn. The corn here is often part of a no-till farming system, a sustainable practice where the land is not plowed after harvest. Instead, the remaining crop roots are left in the ground, and new seeds are planted directly into the residue. This method helps maintain soil health and prevent erosion.The region is famous for a unique type of corn—the "corn on the red cob." This is a special corn type in this area. Its color indicates a high carotene content, making it perfect for grinding into cornmeal or polenta. The "red cob" refers to the deep red color of the cob itself, a striking feature that sets it apart. The planting season for this first corn crop begins in September, as spring arrives in Argentina, bringing warmer temperatures perfect for a new growing cycle.
Daniel's Challenge: Efficiency on a Grand Scale
As an agricultural contractor, Daniel manages 3,000 hectares of farmland for a large farm owner. This farm spans 20,000 to 30,000 hectares, often with multiple machines and workers operating at the same time. While managing only a portion of this land, Daniel needed a way to work efficiently and quickly in the tight window.His primary crop is corn, though he may rotate with other crops like soybeans and wheat. The previous season's corn has been harvested, and the remaining stalks and roots are a familiar sight as he prepares the land for the next planting season. Despite the fertile conditions, the sheer size of the operation made things difficult.
Daniel and his two workers often found themselves physically exhausted from the constant, precise driving required to plant and protect their crops. Four years ago, Daniel discovered the FJD autosteering kit. He has been using it ever since for corn protection, including spraying fertilizer and pesticides.
A Simple Solution for a Big Problem
When Daniel first heard about the FJD autosteering system from his local dealer, Tecnosem, he was intrigued. The promise of hands-free, precise steering seemed like a perfect fit for his large-scale operation. He decided to try it out on his older Massey Ferguson 1195 S-2 tractor. This tractor, a reliable workhorse built in Argentina with a Perkins engine, was instantly transformed.
With the FJD autosteering installed, Daniel was able to achieve 2.5cm RTK accuracy—the kind of precision needed for tasks like crop protection and fertilization. He no longer had to constantly hold the steering wheel. Instead, he could focus on monitoring his implements, ensuring they were working correctly. This simple change made a huge difference, freeing up his hands and dramatically reducing his physical tiredness.
Daniel and his team use the FJD autosteering kit for about one or two months a year, covering around 300 hectares. But even for that short time, the benefits have been immense. In his own words, the precision of the system has allowed his team to work longer hours and complete their tasks with unmatched accuracy.
"Thanks to the precision, we can now work many more hours, and everything is very precise." Before using FJD's autosteering system, Daniel had to manually steer the tractor, a physically demanding task that limited his working hours. Now, with the tractor driving itself in a perfectly straight line, he can free his hands to monitor his equipment and simply focus on the job ahead. This not only reduces physical tiredness but also makes his work far more efficient, especially during long days in the field.
Overcoming Challenges with Local Support
Farming in Venado Tuerto, like in many rural areas, comes with some challenges, including unreliable GPS signals in remote locations. To combat this, Daniel installed an FJD T2 base station directly in the fields. This base station provides a stable, reliable signal, ensuring that his autosteering system works perfectly even in the most remote parts of the farmland."We have been using it for 4 years thanks to a service from Tecnosem. They showed us the device and we tried it and we liked it, so we have been using it until now," said Daniel. This highlights the value of local support. As the FJD dealer in the area, Technocent played a key role in introducing Daniel to the technology and has continued to provide ongoing support.
Recently, Tecnosem, along with a dedicated FJD field engineer, went to Daniel's field to make sure his system was fully updated with the latest software before the new planting season. They tested the T2 base station in the windy conditions of the field, making sure it was in perfect working order. This commitment to local, on-site service is what builds trust and ensures farmers can rely on FJD technology when it matters most.
True Benefits in the Past 4 Years
Daniel's story is a perfect example of how precision agriculture technology can transform farming operations, regardless of the age of the equipment. By adopting the FJD autosteering system, he was able to:- Boost Efficiency: The ability to work with 2.5cm RTK accuracy means less overlap, which saves fuel in fertilizer spraying tasks.
- Reduce Fatigue: Autosteering allows Daniel and his workers to focus on other important tasks, making long days in the tractor cab much less tiring.
- Maximize Potential: The FJD system breathed new life into an older tractor. This allows them to take advantage of modern technology without buying a brand-new machine.
For Daniel, the choice to use the FJD autosteering system was simple: it was a smart investment that has paid for itself for the past 4 years. With the support of Technocent and FJDynamics, he is well-equipped to face the challenges of modern agriculture and continues to achieve success on the fertile lands of Venado Tuerto.