Provincial authorities have reactivated operations against Lobesia botrana, with scheduled and controlled flights to protect the vineyards. The intervention is part of the current campaign and integrates different tools, with priority given to the aerial applications on defined properties.
According to official information, the tasks are carried out in 6:30 - 20:30, hiring an authorized company and under constant supervision of technical personnel. The equipment only operates in favorable weather conditions to avoid the drift and comply with all safety protocols.
Flight schedules and conditions
Flights are scheduled in daily slots to take advantage of atmospheric stability, with prior checks for wind, temperature, and humidity. The entire operation is carried out with technical assistance of the Directorate of Plant, Animal and Food Health, ensuring that each pass meets the coverage parameters and operational security.
Schedule and application areas
The planned calendar, conditioned by the weather, includes interventions in Caucete from October 13 to 16, and from October 16th until the end in the departments of May 25th and Sarmiento. The passes are carried out only on farms previously defined by the technical teams, without entering urban, residential or sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals or water sources.
Products used and environmental criteria
Insecticides are used in the treatments Green Band (Class 4), inputs registered with SENASA and recognized for their low environmental impactThese products are considered practically harmless to the bees when applied following good practices and under established flight conditions.
Recommendations for producers and neighbors
To minimize risks and ensure the effectiveness of treatments, simple but effective measures are requested. It is important that field workers and nearby residents follow the official indications during working hours.
- Cover tanks and bodies of water during applications.
- Cover the hive entrances during the operating hours.
- Interrupt rural work while aircraft pass by and re-enter the field after 12 hours.
The recommendations seek to protect water resources, beehives and people, as well as facilitate a homogeneous coverage of the treatment in each batch intervened.
Regional context and complementary plan
While San Juan continues with flights in defined productive areas, Mendoza has presented a provincial plan that reinforces pest control with its own resources. The announced financial guidelines foresee an estimated investment of 15 million, in the absence of national contributions, to sustain a comprehensive strategy over several cycles.
The Mendoza device is structured in three stages: In the first, they will be placed pheromone diffusers in about 50.000 hectares with medium and high levels of insect presence, in order to interfere with mating without affecting others beneficial organisms.
The second phase incorporates aerial applications with category IV (Green Band) products registered by SENASA on approximately 180.000 hectares, prioritizing an even distribution and the traceability of the broths. When the relief or infrastructure limits the use of light aircraft, the intervention will be carried out with drones.
The third stage focuses on 47.500 hectares, including 7.500 under management. organic, with specific, low-impact insecticides. In addition, sprayable pheromones for the second generation on about 70.000 hectares, more traps and monitoring inputs to evaluate in real time the effectiveness of the actions.
Official contact
For queries or notices related to ongoing applications, the institutional reference is the Directorate of Plant, Animal and Food Health, available at 264 6239867 for producers and residents of the affected areas.
With this work scheme - supervised aerial applications, strict protocols and low-impact products - the wine-producing provinces aim to contain Lobesia botrana at key moments in the crop cycle, prioritizing safety in rural areas and environmental protection.
