On the path that leads to the farm, the 4x4 draws clouds of red dust with each swerve.

The season is drier than expected in the state of Goias, in the heart of the country.

Glued to the rear window, we can barely make out Jair Bolsonaro's campaign sticker, covered with ocher earth.

"We had to call the fire department last week because several hectares caught fire over there," says Danilo Melo, pointing to an expanse that seems endless to the right of the path.

This landowner's 850 hectares of soybean and corn fields are lost on the horizon.

At 59, Danilo Melo has been working this land for almost 40 years, which he inherited from his parents who came "to conquer the region of Brasilia even before the capital was born".

A member of the powerful CNA (Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock), he defends tooth and nail the Brazilian president candidate for his re-election, Jair Bolsonaro.

"Thanks to him, we don't have an export tax, I can sell my soybeans without worry, he has reduced paperwork, bureaucracy."

Chaining sips of water in the refreshing shade of the kitchen of the service house of one of his employees, he predicts a disaster scenario in the event of the election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: "It will be the start of the He wants to supply Brazil as a priority and limit exports, but that will kill our business because we will have to sell our soybeans cheaper."

Farmers supporting Jair Bolsonaro from the state of Mato Grosso © Louise Raulais

"Agro is with Bolso"

Jair Bolsonaro is the friend of farmers, who return it well.

"We must be 350 farmers in the two unions to which I belong. There is only one who will not vote for him", assures Danilo.

Here is a poll forgotten by the Datafolha institute, an organization for recording voting intentions much criticized by the Bolsonaro camp.

During the commemorations of the 200 years of the independence of Brazil, on September 7 in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, one could read on thousands of T-shirts the following slogan: "Agro is with Bolso".

Adored for having regularized a record number of land titles – 402,435 – during his mandate, and having attributed the very controversial demarcation of indigenous lands to the Ministry of Agriculture, the president is a hero in the agricultural states.

In Parana, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondonia, or even in Para, in the heart of the coveted Amazonian forest, he is praised by both small and large operators, his effigy plastered at each entrance. village.

A popularity certainly far from the big cities and their electoral density, but which, cumulated, will weigh on the day of the election.

>> To see: "In Brazil, the 'agricultural mafia' attacks the forest of Rondonia"

In Brasilia, the capital, and in Sao Paulo, the economic lung of the country, it is the CNA that sets the tone.

Barely a month ago, during a confederation event bringing together Jair Bolsonaro and the Minister of Agriculture, Tereza Cristina, the president of the lobby even dared to say that Brazil "did not have room for a convict and an ex-prisoner" - referring to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, jailed for 579 days on corruption convictions later overturned by Brazil's Supreme Court.

"Fascists and Rightists"

More than corruption, Danilo is above all afraid of the land invasions of the MST, the Movement of the Landless supported by Lula.

“Me, it never happened to me but my neighbor was attacked”, he explains, before adding: “Fortunately Jair Bolsonaro defends the possession of a firearm. You need it to protect yourself in a farm as big as mine."

The candidate of the Workers' Party (PT) did not help matters by treating, at the end of August, part of the sector as "fascists and rightists" during a television interview.

Despite this reputation, Lula, historical defender of small farmers to whom he has just promised special credits, is creeping towards the big farmers...

Jair Bolsonaro's most recent victory?

The unexpected support of Neri Geller, vice-president of the agricultural parliamentary group – which brings together deputies and senators from rural states – and former minister of Dilma Rousseff.

This federal deputy from the center of the country is a candidate for the Senate for the state of Mato Grosso, one of the largest meat and soybean exporters in the country.

Politician and landowner, he welcomes the moderate choice of Geraldo Alckmin, member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), as vice-president of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – in the event of victory – and the Party's openness to dialogue workers.

"The current government is mired in ideological struggles, especially with China, which is our most important trading partner,

For some members of the agricultural parliamentary group, the very negative international image of Jair Bolsonaro would give a certain advantage to Lula, very popular in Europe, if an EU agreement with Mercosur were to see the light of day.

Another argument in favor of Lula: to do business, you need a serene climate.

Some big names in the sector, such as Blairo Maggi, nicknamed the "king of soy", do not appreciate the belligerent tone and anti-democratic remarks of the current tenant of the Planalto palace in Brasilia.

Danilo Melo, however, is convinced: "Agribusiness will never accept Lula."

And the polls seem to prove him right: in the immense agricultural belt that goes from the center-west to the south of the country, Jair Bolsonaro is well ahead in view of the first round of the presidential election.

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