Pest management is the subject of action in cotton crops in MT

The Mato Grosso Cotton Institute (IMAmt) concluded, in April, the first edition of the Technical Field Round, an initiative that visited cotton plantations in 14 municipalities in Mato Grosso with the objective of guiding producers and technical teams on the control of pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds.

The action, carried out in partnership with the Mato Grosso Cotton Producers Association (Ampa), served approximately 600 people, including farm managers, agricultural technicians and agronomists, promoting technical visits with specialists and direct exchange of knowledge on the properties.

During the visits, which were always carried out in the morning, researchers from the areas of entomology, phytopathology, herbology, nematology and genetic improvement carried out diagnoses and indicated management strategies based on research results. The activities ended with integration meetings with producers in the hub cities.

The topics discussed included the use of biotechnology in cotton cultivation, strategies for managing boll weevils, whiteflies and aphids, and the importance of using microbiological insecticides and pre-emergent herbicides. The advance of target spot in recent years and the role of application technologies in controlling diseases and pests were also highlighted.

According to Ampa president Orcival Gouveia Guimarães, the initiative was well received by producers and should be expanded in 2026. “We are seeking to bring producers even closer to research, encouraging sustainable practices and the conscious use of pesticides,” he said.

The technical tour included properties in the municipalities of Itiquira, Serra da Petrovina, Rondonópolis, Primavera do Leste, Sorriso, Lucas do Rio Verde, Nova Mutum, Campo Verde, Diamantino, Campo Novo do Parecis, Campos de Júlio and Sapezal.