Chemical use in the soybean industry
Chemical use in the soybean industry
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Desiccating soybeans correctly
Desiccating soybeans correctly
In many growing regions growers are considering whether they need to desiccate their soybeans before harvest.
The registered products available for desiccation of soybeans are diquat (eg Reglone®) or glyphosate (eg Roundup PowerMax®).
NB. While paraquat has a similar mode of action to diquat, it is currently not registered in soybeans. Not all glyphosate products are registered for desiccation of soybeans so please check the label.
Below is an excerpt on desiccation from the newly released Soybean Agronomy manual which covers all aspects of soybean growing, harvesting and storage.
The harvesting section explains:
Desiccants may be required to manage green weeds, hasten leaf drop or facilitate more uniform harvest conditions in crops that have suffered damage during the season.
Growers should use registered products and abide by withholding periods.
If the crop could be kept for planting seed Roundup PowerMax® cannot be used.
Weigh up the costs of a desiccating operation including crop damage and losses due to running down some of the crop during application.
Consult an experienced agronomist when deciding when and how to desiccate.
Remember that using a desiccant will only dry out what is there; it will not advance the maturity of the crop.
Desiccating a soybean crop before it is physiologically mature will likely result in green seeds.
Use of unregistered products – Australian markets
Use of unregistered products – Australian markets
Using an unregistered product places the grower at risk of breaching the relevant legislation in their state or territory.
In Queensland, for example, Biosecurity Queensland takes targeted samples of agricultural produce for laboratory analysis. If chemical residues or contaminant levels higher than the maximum acceptable levels (or residues from the use of an unregistered chemical) are found the grower may be subject to regulatory action.
Other states have similar programs so growers should ensure they always use registered/permitted products only.
Use of unregistered products – Export markets
Use of unregistered products – Export markets
According to GRDC, when Australia exports grains to another country it must meet the importing requirements of the destination country. This includes the presence of any chemical compounds, the levels of which must be below the importing country’s set MRLs, which may differ from Australian MRLs.
GRDC has recently reminded growers that it’s important to always following the label direction for chemicals. Doing so will ensure Australian MRLs will be met, allowing the post-farmgate sector, grain buyers and exporters to realistically understand the likely levels of chemicals to be detected and enable them to manage any risks represented by the importing country’s requirements.
Navigating confusing labels
Navigating confusing labels
Product labels can be confusing, so it's important to do your homework before using a chemical on your crops.
Label options include:
Labels can clearly state ‘Soybeans’ or ‘Soya beans’ on the label, as per this example.
Labels can state the product is for use in a range of crops, including PULSES (see example). APVMA’s definition of ‘pulses’ includes soybeans (see below*).
BE ALERT! If a label has a table of crops titled ‘pulses’, this is a table heading, not a crop type. In this example you will see the exact pulses covered by the label are listed separately within the table.
What about Permits?
What about Permits?
If Soybeans or Pulses are not mentioned on the label of a chemical, it may still be legal to use that product IF an off-label permit exists.
As a minor crop it is difficult to get soybeans listed on the labels of many commonly used pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) permit scheme allows for the off-label use of chemicals legally.
Soy Australia regularly uses the APVMA permit scheme, and this season has required a number of permits to be applied for or extended. Soy Australia applies for permits on behalf of soybean growers via it’s industry partner, the Australian Oilseeds Federation.
You can search APVMA’s website for permits for ‘soybeans’ (or ‘soya beans’) using the button below:
*Some chemical labels refer to ‘pulses’ without mentioning soybeans specifically.
Does this mean this product can be used on soybeans, given they are a pulse crop?
According to the APVMA Pulse section, if a label states the product can be used on ‘pulses’ (and doesn’t list individual pulse crops), that includes soybeans.
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