Bahia: the sanitary vacuum for soy is in effect

The first period of the Soybean sanitary void in Bahia is already in effect, a time when it is forbidden to cultivate, implant or allow the presence of live soybean plants at any stage of growth. The sanitary void is a measure adopted to prevent and control the spread of diseases and pests in national crops. The measure came into effect from the last day 1st — and extends until the 30th of September.

Rafael Moreira, a researcher at Embrapa Soja, exposes the importance of the period of sanitary emptiness for combating the fungus that causes Asian rust.

“Rust is caused by a fungus that needs the living soybean plant to survive. So if you don’t have the plant in the environment, in the field, in the field, the rust fungus spores survive for a maximum of fifty days. So if he doesn’t find the plants, he will fall and die. And this will reduce the population of the fungus”, he explains.

the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhiziwhich is the cause of Asian rust, a disease can cause up to 75% of crop loss, as it has a high capacity for reproduction and dissemination.
According to Ordinance No. 781/2023 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), the ban runs from July 1 to September 30. Periods of sanitary emptiness are established annually by the Map — and must be followed by the producing states, across the country.

The main soy producing municipalities in Bahia are:

• Formosa do Rio Preto
• Saint Desiderius
• barriers
• correntina
• Luis Eduardo Magalhães
• Riachão das Neves
• Jaborandi
• Cocos
• baianopolis
• Serra do Ramalho

Schedule by state:

Violation of the soy fallow period can result in penalties such as the interdiction of the property, in addition to fines, destruction of the plantation — and even criminal liability of the owner, according to article 259 of the Brazilian Penal Code. There is also a forecast of imprisonment from 2 to 5 years, in addition to a fine for those who spread disease or plague that may cause damage to the forest, plantation or animals of economic utility. In the case of guilt, the punishment is imprisonment from 1 to 6 months, or a fine.