Abstract
ABSTRACT: The metropolitan area of Londrina has the presence of strong agribusiness and agroservices and it is an important center for agricultural production, especially soybean and corn. We evaluated the technical aspects and characteristics of farming and crop handling by the producers of soybean and corn, through a semi-structured questionnaire. Two hundred and forty responses were recorded: 120 from soybean farmers and 120 from corn farmers, which represented 10% of the farmers in the city of Londrina. Farmers reported that bedbugs and caterpillars are the main pests. Farmers use organo-synthetic insecticides as the primary means to control pests, but also employ crop-growing measures such as tillage, crop rotation, and the use of transgenic seeds in the management of insect pests affecting soybean and corn.
Highlights
The metropolitan area of Londrina has the presence of strong agribusiness and agroservices and it is an important center for agricultural production, especially soybean and corn
Decision making on pest control is largely aided by a technician, and 97% of producers use technical assistance. This trend is seen in purchase of insecticides: 68% of producers follow the advice of a technician, 23% take into account the price, 5% the quality of the product, and 4% the recommendations of known producers
Respondents were not questioned about the nature of their academic career, 38% of producers who had a higher education degree had a degree in Agricultural Sciences. These results point to the abandonment of many of the principles of integrated pest management, which has biological control at its foundation by those that should be its main advocates. This conclusion is reinforced by the finding that the same percentage of producers who recognize the negative effects of insecticides on natural enemies have not sought the advantages of biological agents as an alternative control
Summary
Producers seek to acquire certified and genetically improved seeds. Ninety-nine percent of farmers reported using transgenic seeds. Knowledge about soybean cultivation was acquired through field days (32%), technical assistance (28%), technical meetings (24%), and information exchange (16%). Decision making on pest control is largely aided by a technician, and 97% of producers use technical assistance. This trend is seen in purchase of insecticides: 68% of producers follow the advice of a technician, 23% take into account the price, 5% the quality of the product, and 4% the recommendations of known producers. This study verified unanimity among the soybean farmers in the management of crops with no-tillage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
