Soybean sanitary void runs from July 1st to September 30th in Tocantins

From July 1st until September 30th, the planting and maintenance of live soybean plants in rainfed crops in Tocantins is prohibited. The measure known as sanitary void is a tool for preventing and controlling Asian rust, the main pest that attacks soybean crops. 

The technical responsible for the State Asian Rust Program, Cleovan Barbosa, explains that the State Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapec) will carry out monitoring and inspection actions in the field, in order to ensure that there are no live soybean plants within the prohibitive period . “Controlling Asian rust is essential for soybean production in Tocantins. And the sanitary void is strategic for breaking the fungus cycle, so it must be respected,” highlights Cleovan Barbosa.

The responsibility for eliminating all live soybean plants, voluntary or not, lies exclusively with the producers or occupants of the area, and if there are live plants in the field, they are obliged to eliminate them by chemical or mechanical means, and not eliminate them will be subject to sanctions provided for by law.

Exceptionality

During the prohibitive period of the sanitary void, exceptional soybean cultivation for research purposes in highlands and production of soybean seeds, seeds for personal use and research/teaching in the Tropical Plains under a sub-irrigation system are authorized in Tocantins.

Data

In this 2023/2024 harvest, the area planted with rainfed soybeans was 1.418.595 hectares and 2.793 properties cultivating the oilseed were registered with Adapec in Tocantins. 

Asian Rust

Asian soybean rust is the main pest that affects the oilseed crop, caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. It spreads quickly between crops through the wind. The biggest damage caused is the reduction in productivity, as it causes premature defoliation in the plants, preventing the soybeans from forming completely.