Mining equipment that helps generate products for agribusiness

The agribusiness sector has been one of the main clients of the mining industry in Brazil. Fertilizers, limestone, gypsum and, more recently, rock dust are gaining ground in the production of food and energy for the domestic market and export.

Máquinas Furlan offers a wide range of products with at least 150 types of high-performance and durable equipment. In customized projects for the generation of agricultural inputs, mills, high-frequency screens and aerodynamic separators stand out.

Stay with us and learn about the machines needed to generate these four items.

It is worth noting that the Brazilian Agribusiness GDP is expected to grow 35% this year, generating R$2.7 trillion in the period, according to experts.

The good numbers also bring challenges. One of them is that Brazilian soil is naturally acidic, which compromises productivity. As an alternative, farmers seek to improve soil fertility every day to increase the harvest in the same planted area.

Brazilian agribusiness currently feeds 1 billion people. Some of these consumers are demanding that food production increasingly use sustainable inputs, creating a new challenge for farmers.

4 products for soil fertility; rock dust is one of them

The entire process for using products aimed at improving fertility occurs after laboratory analysis of the soil and evaluation by an agricultural engineer. At least four types of inputs have driven the good numbers in agribusiness.

. Remineralizer (rock powder)

Its use has grown over the last 15 years. There is an intense search for product registration with official bodies.

The characteristics of the ground rock are important in this record. Silicate rocks, for example, are a source of potassium for crops. Extraction tends to be cheaper, since some of the deposits are in shallower layers.

Recently, the powder has gained market share because it is cheaper than imported fertilizers – although technicians recommend using them together, and not swapping one for the other.

. Agricultural limestone

This corrective agent provides calcium and magnesium, making plant roots stronger. Another advantage is that it boosts the effects of fertilizer, which is more expensive than limestone.

Industries in the sector estimate that Brazil applies 56 million tons of this corrective agent annually, but the ideal would be up to 80 million tons.

In the federal government's latest Harvest Plan, limestone was mentioned with emphasis on increasing productivity. The state of São Paulo wants to reduce its dependence on food from neighboring regions, and to this end, it created the “Solo + Fértil” program to serve 400,000 agricultural properties in São Paulo.

. Agricultural gypsum

It is a soil conditioner that helps mainly during dry spells, when there is intense drought. A source of calcium and sulfur, it helps the plant to take root.

Gypsum is commonly produced from the production of phosphoric acid, which is present in phosphate fertilizers. It is used alone or in compounds – gypsum and limestone, for example – to reduce the cost of application.

. Fertilizers

Fertilizers correct mineral deficiencies in the soil and promote plant development. Due to their rapid action, they have gained market share, particularly those formulated with NPK (which contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has made fertilizer more expensive, and consumption has fallen. There are measures in place to ensure that production takes place in Brazil, avoiding, for example, the influence of import costs.

Furlan solutions for producing agricultural inputs

In general, the company defines investments after analyzing the characteristics of the rocks in its deposits, in addition to the operating costs. The Máquinas Furlan team believes that the choice of equipment should be based on the production desired by the client, the final products and their granulometry (fine or very fine).

There is also the possibility of diversifying materials in the same plant. For example: Furlan serves a mining company that generates rock dust, limestone and aggregate for construction in a single deposit.

Furlan's experience comes from customized projects, such as the recent creation of a roller mill with some of the elements in stainless steel – to be used by a fertilizer manufacturer.

The generation of remineralizers uses, among other items, mills and high-frequency vibrating screens. The granulometry indicated by the Normative Instruction of the Ministry of Agriculture must be followed.

In the final stage of rock powder, aeroseparators may be indicated. The same occurs when analyzing a plant in which the final production will involve gypsum for agriculture.

Among fertilizers, the raw material comes from different sources. In some cases, the mining company will process already processed material. Recently, Furlan developed a roller mill project to process granulated material.

So, what is your question about rock processing for agribusiness? Click here and talk to our team.

Furlan has 61 years of experience in the market. In addition, the reliability and durability of its equipment are the result of a modern industrial park, which manufactures structural, wear and replacement parts in-house. All under the supervision of a team that focuses on generating solutions for the customer.