Farmers in Brazil demand better public policies

The new challenges facing Brazilian beef cattle will require stronger actions from the government, say industry leaders, who complain that the activity has been in the background in recent years and has lost ground in public policies for agriculture and dairy production. The main demands are more credit and technical assistance. “We have more restricted access to resources than agriculture, due to the characteristics of our production cycle”, said to Valor the president of the Association of Nelore Breeders of Brazil (ACNB), Nabih Amin El Aouar. “This got the rancher used to not looking for credit. In a way it's good, because there wasn't a lot of debt. But those who do not invest are limited to the old way of producing.” The extensive model, in which the increase in production is directly linked to the opening of new areas, is coming to an end. Grain crops are advancing in the corners of the country and will continue to take up space in less productive pastures. “Livestock growth ...