EN 
PT_BR 
The sanitary void of cotton It starts this Monday (21) in Tocantins and continues until December 10. According to data released by the Government of Tocantins, during this period the maintenance of live cotton plants in the field is prohibited, a measure adopted to prevent and control the cotton boll weevil.
During the fallow period, the Tocantins Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapec) will monitor areas where cotton was cultivated in the last harvest. The inspection will aim to verify compliance with the phytosanitary control measures stipulated by law.
Adapec advises producers to inspect their cultivation areas and eliminate any live cotton plants during this period. This measure aims to reduce the conditions that allow the cotton boll weevil to survive and multiply.
If live plants are identified, the owner or occupant of the area will be notified to remove them by mechanical or chemical means.
According to data released by the Government of Tocantins, failure to comply with the regulations is subject to the sanctions provided for in the legislation.
In the 2025/2026 crop season, Adapec registered 9,763.34 hectares of cotton in Tocantins.
The cotton boll weevil is a gray or brown beetle, measuring between 3 and 7 millimeters. According to data released by the Government of Tocantins, the pest can infest crops from the beginning of flower bud emergence until harvest.
The insect can have four to six generations during a single crop cycle. When left uncontrolled, it can cause production losses of up to 70%.
With the start of the fallow period, the elimination of live plants and the monitoring of areas become central measures for pest control and compliance with phytosanitary regulations in the state.
