Theme 03: Seed Production
Description
Efficient and low cost production systems, which rely on the use of cultivated pastures, are the basis of beef and milk production in Brazil. The success of these pasture-based systems would not be possible without the support of an aggressive and dynamic pasture seed production sector to supply the internal demand, which is estimated to be around 90000 tons per year. The market is dominated by grass species and among them, Brachiaria. brizantha cv. Marandu accounts for more than 80% of the total seed volume in the market. Seed production systems in Brazil vary from highly specialized to opportunistic accordingly to the grass species. For Brachiarias spp and Panicum maximum production systems vary from specialized to intermediate while for Andropogon gayanus the production system is opportunistic. Mechanized ground sweeping harvesting is widely used. Until the last decade São Paulo State used to concentrate the pasture seed production sector. Recently, however, there is a clear tendency for the sector to move to the Cerrado region where pasture seed production is carried out in rotation with annual crops. Main contributions to the sector came from innovative producers, although official research has played a supporting role.
Included in
Pasture Seed Production Technology in Brazil
Efficient and low cost production systems, which rely on the use of cultivated pastures, are the basis of beef and milk production in Brazil. The success of these pasture-based systems would not be possible without the support of an aggressive and dynamic pasture seed production sector to supply the internal demand, which is estimated to be around 90000 tons per year. The market is dominated by grass species and among them, Brachiaria. brizantha cv. Marandu accounts for more than 80% of the total seed volume in the market. Seed production systems in Brazil vary from highly specialized to opportunistic accordingly to the grass species. For Brachiarias spp and Panicum maximum production systems vary from specialized to intermediate while for Andropogon gayanus the production system is opportunistic. Mechanized ground sweeping harvesting is widely used. Until the last decade São Paulo State used to concentrate the pasture seed production sector. Recently, however, there is a clear tendency for the sector to move to the Cerrado region where pasture seed production is carried out in rotation with annual crops. Main contributions to the sector came from innovative producers, although official research has played a supporting role.
