From Mato Grosso to Perry

September 12, 2024 | Jeff Hutton

For a few hours, the world came to Brock Grubbs.

Recently, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) farmer-member Grubbs hosted a group of soybean and corn producers from Brazil, offering them insights into his family’s 4,000+ acre farm outside of Perry.

He shared information about seed selection, soil type, weed suppression, nitrogen application, markets and how Grubbs Land & Cattle balances input costs and a return on their investments.

Brazilians impressed

The Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association (Aprosoja-MT) traveled to Iowa recently to see firsthand what production methods are implemented here, allowing them to compare and contrast to soybean production in Brazil.

With a population of 3.6 million people, slightly larger than Iowa’s 3.2 million, Mato Grosso is Brazil’s agricultural giant, producing more soybeans and cattle than any other Brazilian state. Agriculture is the most significant component of Mato Grosso’s economy, representing more than 40% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Along with a visit to the ISA office in Ankeny, the group traveled to John Deere, Iowa State University (ISU), Corteva, biofuel company Summit Agricultural Group, and the 2024 Farm Progress Show that was being held that week in Boone.

But it was two farm visits that the Brazilians were excited about - a visit to Landon Aldinger’s farm in Iowa Falls, and Grubbs’ farming operation.

Wellington Andrade with Aprosoja-MT led the group of 30 Brazilian producers to Iowa. He says the opportunity to see how Iowa farmers grow some of the best crops worldwide was very impressive.

“Most of our members really want to see the system of production here in Iowa and how it compares to what they do in Brazil,” he says. “It provides us with a better understanding of what happens outside of Mato Grosso.”

"It was a great learning experience,” says Ilson Redivo, vice president for Aprosoja-MT North. “We were able to take advantage of the opportunity to see the differences in crop cultivation here in the United States and in our region. This mission by Aprosoja-MT opens up a universe different from ours in Brazil for us producers.”

Andreia Cervo Stefanello, a producer from Campo Novo do Parecis, says the visit to Grubbs’ farm was enlightening.

“We came from Brazil to see everything these people are doing in terms of innovation here, to understand how they have so much infrastructure, fantastic machines, things that really meet the needs of producers, bringing innovation, knowledge and endless improvement,” she says.

Sharing new ideas

Grubbs knows the value of traveling globally to compare and contrast soybean production. He visited Central and South America earlier this year to do that very thing.

But he had never hosted an international group of farmers on his farm.

“I was thrilled that they asked as many questions as they did,” he says, noting nothing was off limits from the farm equipment he uses to rental rates and pesticide use.

“They were really interested in how many times we went over our crops with sprayers. They said they have some of the same equipment we have, but then wanted to know what our day-to-day operation was like.”

Like most American farmers, the Brazilian producers were keen on knowing Grubbs’ bottom line – what does it take for him to operate in the black and make a profit.

“They really wanted to know the cost of production and what it takes for us to break even, compared to their own costs,” he says.

Although Grubbs does not understand the Brazilians’ native Portuguese, it was evident that any language and cultural barriers were erased through translators and everyone’s similar desire to have a greater understanding of how farmers here and there just want to feed the world.

“This was a great opportunity for them to learn and for us to share our story,” says Grubbs, adding he is more than happy to host other guests to his family farm anytime.

“We will welcome anybody!”

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