Brazil - Bayer explains switch to Intacta 2 Xtend herbicide

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

Bayer sent, to AgroPages, its official position regarding its new recommendation on the use of the herbicide, Xtendicam, formulated from dicamba.

The manufacturer now recommends the product to be only used during the pre-planting of Intacta 2 Xtend soybeans, and not during post-planting or post-emergence.

According to Bayer, the producer can choose other formulations on the market, but the recommendation in all cases is only for pre-planting.

The details are below:

BAYER’S POSITIONING

Bayer is launching, in the market, the INTACTA 2 XTEND^® platform, a third generation soy biotechnology in Brazil. Among the products that are part of the platform, Xtendicam, a dicamba-based herbicide for use during pre-planting, has detailed application recommendations on its package insert, which can assist in the effective and safe use of the herbicide, both agronomically and for the environment. Users must carefully follow these instructions.

Bayer’s recommendations for the application of dicamba on soybean crops are in line with good application practices already known by rural producers, as they are compatible with other widely used herbicides. Likewise, instructions for the use of Xtendicam remain in line with other products available on the market today.

Bayer consolidated the recommendations for the use of the product in Brazil after several agronomic, environmental and toxicological studies. Academics from major national institutions scientifically adjusted and validated the results while considering the particularities of Brazilian agriculture. The correct management for using the herbicide involves the steps below:

    • Operator training
    • Size of weeds
    • Appropriate choice of formulations and spray tips
    • Volume of syrup
    • Application speed and height of the bar
    • Meteorological conditions
    • Minimum distance from sensitive crops
    • Pre-cleaning sprayer (triple wash)
 
During the 2020/21 season, weed management using dicamba accounted for more than 2,000 hectares of experimental areas, all with satisfactory results. In areas where INTACTA 2 XTEND^® was used, studies also showed that the use of Xtendicam during pre-planting or even on the day of planting offers effective control of main broadleaf species. Planting in weed-free areas reduces weed competition and protects the productivity of soybean cultivars.

Bayer recommends the use of Xtendicam during the pre-planting of the crop as instructed in the package insert, but not during the post-emergence of INTACTA 2 XTEND^® soy. In terms of other market formulations, Bayer is continuing to recommend the use of formulations with Diglycolamine salt (DGA), which have a low volatility potential.

The knowledge attained with consultants and producers will be shared on online platforms and made available to anyone interested in learning about these good practices. Bayer stresses if all its recommendations are followed, farmers can extract the maximum potential from the use of the herbicide.

Bayer highlights its commitment to the quality and safety of its products. Launches undergo long periods of research and testing, to bring the most appropriate technical recommendations and achieve the best results. Products are also submitted for approval to the world's leading regulatory agencies, meeting stringent international safety requirements.