Valent Belay Insecticide receives aerial application approval in soybeans

Valent U.S.A. Corporation has received EPA approval for aerial applications of Belay® Insecticide in soybeans.

A third-generation neonicotinoid, Belay is the newest insecticide for soybeans. This new addition to the Belay label gives growers flexibility to apply Belay by air, meaning soybean acres may be covered more quickly as pest pressure increases.

Carlos Granadino, product development manager for Valent, said this new application method makes Belay an even better fit for growers needing dependable insect control at various points of the year.

"Growers will now have the flexibility to apply Belay by air when key pests, such as soybean aphids, build to threshold levels in their fields,” Granadino said. “Belay starts providing reliable control of aphids after only a few hours. One strength of Belay is its highly systemic chemistry that quickly translocates in the plant to provide long-lasting protection—from 14 to 21 days of control—when the crop is still actively growing and susceptible to the damage from soybean aphid feeding.”

Belay is proven to control a broad spectrum of tough pests including aphids, plant bugs and stinkbugs. Dr. Ian MacRae, University of Minnesota Extension entomologist and associate professor, said aphid control is one of the main concerns for soybean growers in the North Central states.

"Depending on the population, untreated soybean aphids can cause up to a 40 percent decrease in yield from central to northern Minnesota,” said MacRae. “In our trials we saw very good population control with Belay.”

Belay is another addition to the growing portfolio of soybean solutions Valent offers growers. Belay can be applied 45 days after a seed treatment containing a neonicotinoid, such as the new INOVATE™ System, so growers can maximize yield by controlling both early- and late-season insects in their soybeans.