Tamandua News -May 2002

With two events, Easter was particularly well celebrated this year.

A party at the Local School brought together all the "bunnies" of the primary school, with cake, soft drinks, balloons and a great deal of fun and play. The event was organized by the teachers Maria do Carmo and Gean and gave a lot of joy to all.

For the first time, the dynamic Eliete, responsible for teaching catechism but also known as the organizer of the famous Tamanduá Quadrille, coordinated the production of a Passion Play.

With the support of the Pastoral Service for Children, Eliete, Nando and Erasmo wrote the text, prepared the script, and designed and made the costumes.

Over 20 actors from the farm, young and old, rehearsed for several weeks, up till Good Friday, when the play was enacted.

Farm actors,
playing
Christ jugement
scene

Mocó Agropecuária Ltda has been chosen by Banco do Nordeste (Bank of the North-East) to receive the "Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award", 2002 edition, representing the Rural Sector of the State of Paraíba Economy. Here we publish the letter addressed to Mr.Pierre Landolt on April 19, 2002.

Dear Sir,

We are happy to inform you that Mocó Agropecuária Ltda, under your management, has been chosen by the Banco do Nordeste (Bank of the North-East) to receive the "Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award", 2002 edition, representing the Rural Sector of the State of Paraíba Economy.

We would inform you that this is the second edition of the above mentioned Award, created by the Banco do Nordeste with a view to acknowledging, stimulating and rewarding successful entrepreneurial initiatives, supported by the Bank.

For your information, Mocó Agropecuária Ltda was nominated as a candidate for the award by the Patos branch of the Banco do Nordeste, and this nomination was confirmed by a Commission composed of one representative of the State Government, one member of the Federal University of the State of Pernambuco and one class association representative, and by the Banco do Nordeste superintendent himself, responsible for the Bank’s operations in your State.

The Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award covers all the States of the North-East of Brazil, as well as the Northern Regions of the States of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, which comprise the area in which the Bank operates. According to the rules governing the Award, companies representing the Rural, Industrial and Service segments are considered, regardless of the size or value of the projects financed.

In the contest, the entrepreneurial excellence of the competitors is analyzed according to pre-established criteria, such as employment and income generation, environmental impact, stimulus to association initiatives, worker training, profitability, management, technological innovation, sales network and associations established, which are all items proving the importance of the enterprise for the community and reinforcing the role of the Banco do Nordeste as an agent for the furtherance of regional development.

The Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award will be recorded by the delivery of a trophy, together with a certificate, at an event expected to take place in the month of June next, on a date to be confirmed, and constituting part of the celebrations for the 50^th anniversary of the creation of the Banco do Nordeste.

With our best wishes for permanent success,

Yours Faithfully,

For Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S/A
Regional Superintendency for Pernambuco & Paraíba
João Nilton Castro Martins
Superintendent

One of the safest ways to ensure fodder for the cattle during the long periods without rain in the Northeast is by ensilage, in addition to haymaking, which is also carried out on the farm taking advantage of the evaporation from the reservoirs.

Our silage is made from forage sorghum, planted during the short rainy period, without weeding, letting the weeds grow spontaneously in order to enrich the final ration we produce, especially with leguminous plants, such as scarlet star-glory and rola beans, and grasses, such as crab grass.

Sorghum has proved to be the most appropriate graminaceous crop, due to its resistance to drought, and in our case the short periods of summery weather ("veranicos"), which are quite frequent during the growing cycle. In addition, it sprouts again rapidly after cutting for ensilage, which enables another harvest, depending on the rain. 40 hectares were planted to sorghum in the current year.

The 6 hectares of paraíso grass, recently replanted, irrigated and intended as green ration for the cattle during the dry season, have also been silaged.

The ration is machine harvested and brought to the trench silo, in which it is compacted.

We add a little boiled sugar-cane juice so as to ensure the anaerobic fermentation process, as well as to increase the nutritional value of the silage.

We close the trench silo by covering it with a plastic sheet and a layer of soil. The silos are opened after at least three months, and may last for over two years without being opened.

sequency:

a little boiled sugar-cane juice is
added

and

ration being machine harvested

ratio
compacted.

*May 's edition of Tamandua News brings to you:*
A well-celebrated Easter!	Mocó Agropecuária receives the "Banco do Nordeste Enterprise 21 Award", 2002 edition	Silo