Soybean-Free Period to Start in Brazil’s Southern State of Parana

The annual soybean-free period in the southern Brazilian state of Parana will start on Saturday, June 10, 2023 and end on September 10, 2023. During this period, no live soybean plants will be permitted in the state. Farmers must eliminate any live soybeans in their fields, along the roadways, and near storage or transportation facilities.

The goal of the soybean-free period is to reduce the chance of any live soybean rust spores (Phakospora pachyrhizi) surviving from one growing season to the next. Soybean rust spores can survive for approximately 60 days without a host plant, so eliminating soybean plants as a host reduces the possibility that the disease will infect newly planted soybeans at the start of the growing season. If farmers can delay the introduction of soybean rust into their fields, they can reduce the number of fungicide applications necessary to control the disease and maintain the efficacy of the treatments.

In addition to monitoring pervious soybean fields, farmers need to monitor safrinha corn fields and winter small grains such as wheat, oats, and barley.

The same soybean-free program will be in effect in all major soybean producing states in Brazil.

State agencies will send out teams of technicians to scout for live soybean plants during the 90-day soybean-free period. If live plants are located, the landowner will be notified and instructed to destroy the plants. If the landowner does not comply, the state levies a hefty fine. Generally, Brazilian farmers are diligent in eliminating any live soybean plants because it can save them money in reducing the number of fungicide applications.

Tags: fungicide, Brazil, soybeans, soybean rust, soybean free period, plants