AgroPages-"Fox Xpro gained good results in controlling soybean rust in Brazil" - Interview with Marcos Cernescu, Bayer regional manager-Agricultural news

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By Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages

AgroPages talked exclusively with Marcos Cernescu, regional manager of Bayer, about the fungicide Fox Xpro (Bixafen + Prothioconazole + Trifloxystrobin), which has brought innovation to the control of soybean diseases in Brazil, especially Asian rust. Cernescu explains how the product is entering the Brazilian market in this first marketing season, as well as the first results obtained.

How has the reception been for Fox Xpro in the Brazilian market?

We launched the product last year, starting with demonstrative areas. What is Fox Xpro? Everyone already knew Fox, but now we've added another chemical group inside: the carboxamide. It has become, therefore, a more complete product in the control of soybean rust and other diseases in soybean crops. What Bayer realized is that with each passing year, all products are losing some rust control efficiency. Seeing this, Bayer made the launch of Fox Xpro, a mixture with triple active ingredients. We started work in Brazil, setting demonstrative areas. We hired a team, and just in the state of Rio Grande do Sul did we assemble more than 700 areas.

What have been the results of the fungicide?

Great. In the initial control, because our recommendation is two applications of Fox Xpro in the beginning and then two applications of Sphere (Trifloxystrobin + Cyproconazole), we noticed that the control is much better, compared to other products from competitors. And it is very good news that in all these areas that are now being harvested we are seeing very good results.

The farmer, who is our focus, he is looking at the product and he is saying: really it is a new product, it is a better product, it is a product that controls not only soybean rust, but other diseases. And also, many are saying: I picked up three bags, I picked up five more bags. We are very pleased that the product that Bayer is launching adds value to the farmers. And our goal, what is it? It is to serve better and allow the farmer to harvest more soybeans.

Is this product only for the big producer, or is it also available to the small and medium producer? Do you provide assistance?

Our focus is to meet the demands of producer, the customer, regardless of the size the customer. The accessibility of this product will be as much for the small, as for the big producer.

Yes, we provide assistance through our team and we have very strong partnershipment with cooperatives, with research bodies, with distributors, in which they also have a whole team to advice. With research bodies to give us not only Bayer research, but also the official bodies' research, and a service through Emater and other bodies, so that they can also access this producer.