Corteva reports new Intrepid Edge targets

Corteva Agriscience announced, in a press release, new registrations for its Intrepid Edge insecticide. Recognized on the market as a potent product with a shock effect on soybean caterpillars, it now also works to control thrips and Rachiplusia nu in soybeans.

With planting progress across the country, Conab estimates indicate a production of 162,4 million tons of oilseed in the 2023/24 harvest. The new record, which represents an increase of 5,1% in relation to the previous harvest, is due to several actions taken by farmers, such as the use of biotechnology, control of weeds, diseases and pest management. 

“Brazilian soybeans play a leading role worldwide, and this is also due to adequate pest management, with complete control and the adoption of highly efficient tools. Now, the oilseed producer can use the Intrepid Edge insecticide to control new targets, which can cause large-scale economic losses if not managed properly”, states Thomas Scott, Corteva Agriscience Insecticide Portfolio Leader for Brazil and Paraguay.

Intrepid Edge performance

Thrips, one of the most damaging pests in oilseeds, are small insects that cause severe damage to the plant by scraping the leaf and absorbing cellular liquid, with the potential to cause high production losses in the crop. It has a rapid reproductive process and its complete cycle, from egg to adult, lasts approximately 15 days. 

The proliferation of the pest is favored during periods of drought, whether in hot and dry weather or in low temperature conditions, associated with a lack of rainfall. There are around 2 thousand species of thrips in the world and, in soybean cultivation, the most common are Caliothrips phaseoli, Caliothrips braziliensis and Frankliniella schultzei. 

Rachiplusia (Rachiplusia naked) It has the characteristic of scraping soybean leaves when they are small, causing complete destruction in advanced stages of growth.

Intrepid Edge can also be used in the management of Pod Caterpillar (Spodoptera eridania), Heliothis Caterpillar (Heliothis virescens), Army Caterpillar (Spodoptera frugiperda), False Ox Caterpillar (Crysodeixis includens) and Helicoverpa Caterpillar ( Helicoverpa armigera), in addition to being invasive in cotton and bean crops.

Insecticide also receives registration for peanuts

To assist in the growth of the peanut production market in Brazil, Corteva Agriscience also announced that Intrepid Edge has received registration for use in the crop, where the product controls thrips of the species Caliothrips phaseoli and Frankliniella schultzei, in addition to redwood thrips (Caliothrips brasiliensis) silverback (Enneothrips flavens) and red-necked caterpillar (Stegasta globolla).

“Thanks to management and control techniques for pests and diseases that affect peanuts, the expansion of production is a reality in Brazil. Corteva’s insecticide arrives to help the producer control the invaders common to the grain”, he concludes.

Brazilian peanut production has seen an exponential jump in recent years. Between the 2014/15 and 2022/23 harvests, Brazil recorded an increase of 157,5%, according to the National Supply Company (Conab), with 895 thousand tons of grain. The planted area also doubled in the same period, with São Paulo being the protagonist, with more than 90% of this production.