Why is the fallow period of 2026 the most important time to protect soybean productivity?

The soybean planting ban is not just a mandatory pause for the phytosanitary defense of our crops; it represents the most strategic moment of the year for the rural producer. Now, as we experience the 2026 planting ban, the decisions made in offices and at farm headquarters will dictate the pace and success of the next planting window. And, in this planning, one factor is consolidating itself as the great watershed between average and high productivity: the technology embedded in the seed.

The seed has long ceased to be merely a grain that will germinate in the ground. Today, it is the first and most important major investment of the producer. It carries the maximum potential of the crop. However, for all this genetic potential to be expressed, especially in the face of an increasingly unstable climate and irregular rainfall distribution, the seed needs protection. This is where Industrial Seed Treatment (IST) ceases to be a luxury and becomes a fundamental necessity.

When planning the 2026/2027 soybean crop, producers need to consider the so-called "invisible costs" of on-farm seed treatment. The habit of treating seeds on the property, often seen as a way to save money, hides enormous operational bottlenecks. When farmers opt for manual treatment, they consume machine hours, displace labor (which is increasingly scarce and expensive), and assume the risk of directly handling highly toxic pesticides. On-farm seed treatment immediately eliminates the risk of staff poisoning and the complex logistics of triple rinsing and returning dozens of empty containers.

Besides safety and speed—after all, the seed arrives ready for direct filling into the planter—the watchword of TSI is precision. Modern industrial equipment has the level of precision of a hemodialysis machine, guaranteeing the exact dose of active ingredient per seed unit. This avoids both underdosing (which leaves the plant unprotected) and overdosing (which can cause phytotoxicity and impair the operation of high-tech planters due to excess dust and graphite).

Another critical point in current planning is the revolution in biological inputs. The use of live microorganisms for plant protection and stimulation is growing exponentially. However, mixing biological and chemical products in a cement mixer or simple equipment on the farm is an invitation to "mixture incompatibility," where one product ends up canceling out the effectiveness of the other. In the industry, each molecule and microorganism undergoes rigorous laboratory testing to ensure the compatibility and survival of the biological agents until the seed touches the soil.

Ultimately, the legislation only requires 80% germination, but what truly defines the perfect initial start is vigor, the seed's real strength to overcome climatic stress and germinate uniformly. A good seed treatment acts as a protective shield for this vigor.

We know that the agricultural market experiences fluctuations and that the instinct in times of tight margins and volatile commodity prices is to cut costs. However, investing in seed quality and its initial protection is what will sustain profitability later on. Forgoing industrially treated seeds compromises the production potential even before the tractor hits the field.

Brazilian farmers are, by nature, confident optimists. They invest their capital underground, in the open air, hoping for rain at the right time. But we don't control the weather. What we can and should do is control management. May this 2026 sanitary break be planned with a focus on efficiency. Doing our part, with the best technology, operational agility, and industrially treated, high-vigor seeds, is the safest path to a bountiful and profitable harvest.

*Per William Lopes, agronomist graduated from the University of Rio Verde (Goiás) and senior manager of Soybean Seed Production and Portfolio at Sementes Goiás