EN 
PT_BR 
Continuous monitoring of commercial soybean crops in Paraná, carried out for 12 harvests by Embrapa Soja, the Paraná Rural Development Institute (IDR-Paraná), and several partners, has maintained significant productivity results, reduced the number of pesticide applications, and lowered the cost of soybean production.
During the Show Rural Coopavel, to be held from February 9th to 13th in Cascavel (PR), visitors will be able to learn how the adoption of good agricultural practices, especially Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Disease Management (IDM) and seed co-inoculation, have proven to be efficient and economically viable strategies. The adoption of the three technologies promotes an average annual profitability increase of 8 sacks/ha (1.5 sacks/ha in IPM, 1.6 sacks/ha in IDM and 5.04 sacks/ha in co-inoculation).
Through a broad network of research and rural extension, Technological Reference Units (URTs) have been implemented in commercial farms as part of the State Program for Sustainable Grains. "In these areas, technicians from IDR Paraná monitor crop development and guide interventions based on technical criteria, allowing for comparison of the results from these areas with those of unassisted producers (UNAs)," explains researcher André Prando, from Embrapa Soja.
MIP - Soybeans – For Edivan Possamai, extension agent at IDR-Paraná and coordinator of the Sustainable Grains Program, one of the main highlights is the reduction in insecticide use. According to him, in the last four harvests, areas not assisted by the Program maintained an average of three applications per cycle, while in the URTs (Regional Technology Units) this number dropped to about one application. “The reduction represents direct savings for the producer and significant environmental benefits, without compromising productivity,” he explains.
In the 2024/2025 growing season, 119 Integrated Pest Management (IPM-Soybean) treatment units were monitored in 84 municipalities in Paraná state. Of this total, 90.81% of the areas used Bt cultivars and 9.21% used non-Bt cultivars. The average cultivated area was 43.4 hectares, with an average productivity of 60.7 sacks per hectare. “Comparing the 12 growing seasons of IPM-Soybean monitoring, the trend of reduced insecticide applications continues, reinforcing the effectiveness of the technical approach,” highlights Prando. The publication *Results of Integrated Pest Management of Soybeans in the 2024/2025 Growing Season in Paraná* provides detailed information about the Program.
MID-Soybean – In addition to pest control, Integrated Soybean Disease Management (IDM-Soybean) also showed significant results, especially in combating Asian soybean rust. In the 2024/2025 growing season, 120 URTs (Units of Reference Technology) were conducted in Paraná, with spore collectors installed in 110 of them. Information from the remaining units was supplemented by nearby collectors. In total, the state network had 179 monitoring points, including areas of partners such as universities and research stations.
Monitoring identified the presence of the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, which causes soybean rust, in 158 collectors, equivalent to 88.3% of the network. “This data was fundamental in guiding the correct timing for fungicide application,” highlights researcher Claudine Seixas, from Embrapa Soja. In addition to Asian soybean rust, diseases such as powdery mildew, target spot, anthracnose, white mold, and end-of-cycle diseases were also monitored in the field. “The numbers show that, in areas where MID-Soybean was adopted, there was an average reduction of 33% in the number of fungicide applications,” says Claudine.
According to the researcher, while an average of 3.3 applications were recorded in the UNAs, the number dropped to 2.2 applications in the URTs. “Specifically for the control of Asian soybean rust, 2.7 applications were made in the UNAs and 1.8 in the URTs. Despite this difference, there was no significant difference in productivity between the URTs and the UNAs,” she points out.
The results reinforce the central premise of MID-Soybean: continuous monitoring of the rust-causing fungus, the occurrence of other diseases, the environment, and crop development is more efficient than the calendar-based application of pesticides. “This practice avoids unnecessary or late applications, reduces agronomic risks, and allows for more assertive decisions, especially in areas sown at the end of the agricultural calendar. The Technical Circular…” Monitoring of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in the 2024/2025 growing season to inform decision-making regarding the control of Asian soybean rust.
Bio-inputs in soybeans
Regarding the adoption of inoculation/co-inoculation with the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Bradyrhizobium and the growth-promoting bacteria Azospirillum, the data are also surprising. According to Possamai, a survey was conducted in the 2024/2025 crop season, in 22 URTs (Units of Reference Technology), installed in commercial crops in 17 municipalities, from different regions of Paraná.
According to IDR-Paraná and Embrapa Soja, the average grain yield in co-inoculated areas was 3,916 kg/ha, while in non-inoculated areas it was 3,615 kg/ha. The average yield in URTs with co-inoculation, in the 2024/2025 crop season, was higher than the Paraná state average of 3,663 kg/ha and the national average of 3,561 kg/ha, according to the National Supply Company. On average, 641 of the Paraná producers consulted stated that they had used inoculant in soybean cultivation in the 2024/2025 crop season. The publication Coinoculation of soybeans with Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum in the 2024/2025 crop season in Paraná This presents the consolidation, over the tenth year, of data obtained from farms in Paraná.
