From Calchín, the land of Julián Álvarez, the production of alfalfa is another world success

Calchín is a small town of about 3,000 inhabitants, located 130 km east of Córdoba.

It is known for its alfalfa production and subsequent export to various countries around the world, including Qatar.

It integrates the cultivation cluster that has just been developed to achieve identity. 

But recently

.

And it has to do with the World Cup that Argentina has just won.

And this is how a large colored sign at the entrance to the town explains it: “Welcome, Calchín, the land of Julián Álvarez”, with the photo of the striker of the National Soccer Team.

World Cup alfalfa megabales.

Alfalfa production also with worldwide destination

The cultivation of

is the other great success that is developing strongly in the region, and those who are on the subject affirm that

and to push it forward the

the province of Córdoba was formed.

The producing nucleus expands from

to the south to

to the north and from

to the east, to

to the west with its 41 partners - between active, adherents and honorifics in

,

,

,

,

,

, others are also added who are not partners, but who permanently provide alfalfa to the chain.

The legal formation of the group dates back only four months, but they have been working in it for three years now, and alfalfa producers from

,

,

,

and the company Staheli West from Utah USA, which supplies equipment for humidifying fodder.

Fabián Russo

, president of the Córdoba Alfalfa Cluster, stated: "I came to produce 400 hectares of alfalfa in Calchín, and today I focus on advising producers and improving the commercialization of alfalfa in the internal and external markets."

Ing. Agr.

Fabián Russo in an alfalfar.

,

,

,

,

,

, institutes such as

and

,

and external advisors such as

from Inta Manfredi

participate in the group .

"Each link in the chain contributes what it knows how to do best to boost all the activity related to cultivation," says Russo.

In Argentina, about

are grown between pure alfalfa fields and associated alfalfa-based pastures.

Córdoba sows some

 while the cluster works some

.

exports

The weight of the exported

varies depending on the press with which they are made.

They can be

placing 24 tons of hay, and

that in the container they load 21 to 22 tons

The main destination is the

, and also

, which has very particular requirements to receive merchandise.

Mega bales are also shipped to Brazil.

While the pellets are exported to various destinations in Latin America from a company in Calchín, which is the largest in the region.

The average productivity in Córdoba is

and there are top producers that reach 20,000 and 25,000 kg of DM/ha, yields that they achieve by applying advances in the work process and in technology.

Emilio Daniotti de Jesus Maria

The

such as

,

and even

if it did not have the extraordinary prices of today.

In addition, forage is

compared to other crops, for example, with soybeans or wheat, if a climatic problem occurs that harms the crop, it cannot be sown again until next year, while alfalfa is 30 years old. days offers a new cut.

Producer

Emilio Daniotti

produces 600 hectares of alfalfa in the

all preserved in mega-bales.

95% goes to the domestic market and 5% to export.

Plant alfalfa 

cross passes of the planter at 45° to better cover the field.

Download the seed in the furrow 1 cm deep, it always makes pure alfalfare that lasts 4 years.

"We work with two types of

, one on the three points of the tractor with a

and a

both with discs and a conditioner. The operation that follows is with the

, which is the works better at the moment" says Emilio.

Mower mounted on the three front and rear points of the tractor with 10 m cutting width.

Then, with the mega-

per year and per hectare in

.

They rotate with corn, soybeans and wheat in good years, but corn and soybeans, always in rented fields.

They fertilize with 150 kg/ha of superphosphate, which is what the crop consumes,

"We have come quite well from the rains compared to other areas, but the

, because the rents are defined in soybeans, not alfalfa and 30% (of the cost of production) that the rent was coming out, now it has gone approximately double.

Also, alfalfa did not rise like soybeans.

Alfalfa is quoted at

at the official exchange rate," he details.

"Until last year, we were

which produces alfalfa on 4,000 ha in Villa Dolores, destined for Saudi Arabia, where they have

. When they don't have enough own production, they buy from third parties. We also sell to a company in Navarra, Spain," he added.

Steamer + re-compactor to export more volume

To improve exports, they plan to invest in a

and a customs office in the field, but about 8 months ago they have requested permission to import, but without any response from those who must authorize the operation.

They are machines that are not manufactured in Argentina and of which there are only two factories in the world, one of which is in Spain.

Humidifier in front of the mega baler in action, export to find production volume.

The idea was to complement both machines to achieve a higher export volume.

The weight of the compacted bale is the same, what changes is the size

.

A bale is 1.20 meters by 2 meters long x 0.70 cm high.

And the compactor transforms it into one 80 cm wide, by 2.00 m by 70 cm high.

In other words, it reduces the volume with the same weight from 450 kg to 480 kg.

"Then

corresponding savings in freight," explains Emilio.

"The idea is that of the total produced,

that always comes out in export conditions (to put it in the container it must have less than 14% humidity), and thus sell it in the foreign market to get added value to our production and if it goes well for us to buy from the neighbors and

, he clarifies.

Emilio Daniotti on the right with his brother and father and the steamer that is complemented by the compactor to achieve a greater export volume.

Also in November, the company incorporated a

machine from the United States with which the humidity of the bale is calibrated, so that when you have a very dry alfalfa, instead of waiting until night for dew to fall, you can supply the precise humidity independent of the environment.

"A ton of alfalfa sells for $26,000 plus freight and the foreign market price is a little higher, but

that can be sold. In normal times we have plenty of alfalfa for

The smallest contract that can be made abroad is 5 or 10 thousand tons, which is all of our annual production," says Emilio.

"

and is growing a lot because in other countries like Saudi Arabia,

because it is enough for human consumption. That is why

Likewise, the number of animals is increasing and therefore the demand for water is greater," explains Emilio.

"I was in California in 2017 and there was already talk that in

and by 2030 they project that very little will be able to be irrigated. The water they use is from the Colorado River, whose flow from melting ice in the Rockies is dwindling, so they must import food for their herds, says Emilio Daniotti.

Julian Alvarez

“The more than forty million of us here in Argentina played with us on the field and we tried to represent them in the best way.

I want to thank you for your love and support," said the World Cup soccer champion in the framework of the emotional ceremony that took place at Club Atlético Calchín after the arrival of the champion team in Argentina, where he took his first steps playing for the club of the town where he was born, where less than 3000 inhabitants live.

"I met Julián Álvarez's father, who was called "Pululo" and he was the truck driver who transported us the mega-bundles we produced and he always talked about "El Arañita" his son Julián, who everyone talked about his future as a soccer player" , says Fabían Russo, president of the Córdoba Alfalfa Cluster.

“We are proud as Cordovans for how Julián Álvarez represented us in the World Cup in Qatar.

The entire team showed that you have to fight for what you want and not give up in adverse situations”.

producer Emilio Daniotti pointed out.

look too

An Argentine company exported 150 containers of alfalfa rolls to the Middle East in 2020

"Qatar is a sea of ​​opportunities"