Bayer initiative to combat leafhoppers reaches 194 cities in the south of the country

The impacts of the La Niña climate phenomenon - marked by dry weather and irregular rains - are already threatening estimates of summer corn production in Rio Grande do Sul, mainly in the northwest region of the state, according to data from Emater/RS. For the researcher in Entomology at Cooperativa Central Gaúcha Ltda (CCGL), Glauber Renato Stürmer, the instability of the climate may be favorable for the incidence of the corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis).

"This is an insect vector, that is, it does not cause significant damage directly, but indirectly. The problem is caused when the pest, during the feeding process, plays the role of transmitter of the pathogens that cause the pale and red stunts of the corn. Damage can reach up to 100% of grain production, making farming unviable", highlights the specialist.

Looking for an improvement in this scenario and greater control of the pest in the 2021/22 corn harvest, Bayer developed the Cigarette Combat Squad, a collaborative network, between farmers, researchers and the agtech Farmbox, to monitor crops in Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. The project, started in July this year and completed in November, impacted 194 cities in the state, from which 350 farms received the installation of 832 traps for the pest. During the period, more than 7.500 visits were made to georeference the plot and monitor it.

"This initiative is the key to preventing damage caused by the insect. Our focus is to help producers solve this problem that is significantly impacting the profitability of corn", explains Bayer's executive director of corn business, Rodrigo Nuernberg.

To collect the information used by the field team, a georeferencing visit was made to the plot and, shortly afterwards, by the technical team for monitoring. Visits were carried out at intervals of 7 to 10 days throughout the culture cycle. "With the inspection of the crop, we were able to identify which pests were in the field and estimate the population density, the damage caused by the insects and the occurrence of natural control. When the presence of the leafhopper is detected, the field team receives the data generated and advises the producer about the most efficient management in cultivation", reinforces Nuernberg.

For Stürmer, data is crucial for greater risk control, as well as cost management during the harvest. "With this project, the farmer makes much more robust management, with more applications in regions that show greater risk. This way he is able to take precautions and make more assertive decisions", reinforces the CCGL entomologist.

Importance of integrated management

Stürmer highlights that producers need to be aware that adopting a single management strategy, in isolation, is not enough. "To reduce and prevent the outbreak of the pest in crops, it is necessary to manage the corn leafhopper by practicing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), considering monitoring, the use of corn hybrids with greater tolerance to stunting and chemical control measures ", he adds.

In response to this need and the importance of seeds that are more resistant to different weather conditions, be it climate, pests and others, Bayer launched the Agroceres 8701PRO3 corn hybrid (tropical summer). The new variety, indicated mainly for crops in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, in addition to being tolerant to the stunting complex, also has productive potential in environments with medium and high production, stability in different environments and cycle precocious. "By using a corn hybrid with greater tolerance, the potential for damage from an infected corn leafhopper, for example, is reduced by 30% to 40%", concludes Stürmer.