Bayer technologies provide efficient weed management in soybean crops

In this 2021-2022 crop year, soy producers in Brazil can rely on Bayer's leading technology to control the main weeds with broad leaves associated with the crop, such as horseweed, pigweed, viola string, black beak and others.

This action has been possible with the association of Roundup Transorb R technologies, with glyphosate as the active ingredient, + Intacta 2 Xtend(i2x), which has the Xtendicam tool.

“In this one-two punch, we made available to the soy farmer the very best we have in glyphosate formulation technology. It is the Roundup Transorb R herbicide, in addition to the Intacta 2 Xtend (i2x) platform, with Xtendicam (dicamba), a DGA salt that complements the action of glyphosate, and there you have a very low volatilization profile,” explained Gabriel Pereira Silva, responsible for Bayer's LATAM non-selective herbicides strategy.

Somewhere between 40% and 50% of the soy cultivated area across the country has some problem of weed resistance to herbicides on the market, highlighting the importance of complementary solutions in controlling these pests. However, financial losses to producers can reach R$9 billion a year, according to information supplied by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

“We have a combination of two excellent active ingredients. First, glyphosate can act on certain weeds, while dicamba, as it has a different mode of action, will play its role in others. In this way, combined, they manage to have a joint action in the plant, ensuring the best agronomic performance,” said Henrique Barbosa, manager of LATAM manufacturing technology at Bayer.

Also, according to the specialist, Roundup Transorb's surfactant package makes the herbicide enter the plant as quickly as possible, avoiding its defense mechanisms and ensuring productivity. "This exclusive package from Bayer provides the penetration of the active ingredient faster, up to one hour, as in the package insert, that is, maintaining the effectiveness of the solution even after rain, for example, and efficiently."

“The surfactants help prevent the droplets from drifting and make them more adherent and spread more over the surface of the plant, increasing that area of contact with the leaf, accelerating penetration. We were able to bring the best in the market through research over many years, both in terms of efficiency and sustainability,” explained Bayer's LATAM manufacturing technology manager.

On the other hand, Silva also pointed to sustainability linked to the junction of technologies. “Our focus is always to invest in more sustainable agriculture. With more ingredients in the same package, we reduce in plastic, water, transportation and farm operation costs. The appeal of getting technologies that allow us to increase the concentration of an asset as important as glyphosate in the same package is enormous.”

“Our objective, today and always, is to reach a new level of productivity, whether through glyphosate formulations to ensure the effectiveness of the herbicide, which is the basis of everything, or others. Bayer will not stop investing in research and innovation when we discuss this formulation and new ones. We want agriculture to prosper, especially for our customers,” he added.