Cornell University researchers have identified how cabbage looper caterpillars in the field develop resistance to the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which naturally occurs in the soil and on plants and has been developed into a successful and widely used biological insecticide.
Corn rootworm damage to Bt corn in Illinois was discovered by University of Illinois entomologist Mike Gray. Earlier in August, similar root damage was found in Iowa. Experts advise growers to consider seed alternatives for 2012....More
Isolated findings of resistant rootworms in Iowa emphasize that planting a refuge is more critical than ever for maintaining the durability of Bt corn, a Purdue Extension entomologist says....More
Monsanto responds to the recent study conducted y Aaron Gassmann, Iowa State University, documenting the first case of corn rootworm resistance to Bt hybrids expressing the Cry3Bb1 toxin....More
Questions are surfacing about the impact of late planting on key insect pests of corn and soybeans, said Mike Gray, University of Illinois Extension entomologist....More
Pioneer Hi-Bred's first refuge-in-a-bag product, Optimum AcreMax 1, has seen strong sales for 2011, according to Bill Belzer, senior marketing manager, North America corn. The next generation of refuge products should be approved for use in 2012....More
With planting now well under way in some areas of the country, Dow AgroSciences says its first bag of Refuge Advanced – the company’s refuge-in-a-bag product – has been planted in a field near Silver Lake, Kan.
Refuge Advanced powered by SmartStax contains a blend of 95 percent SmartStax seeds and 5 percent non-insect-traited refuge seeds. The company received EPA registration on April 8....More
Monsanto just received full regulatory approval for a single-bag refuge product for corn. The product is called Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete and can be planted across a corn grower’s entire field. It is a blend of 95% Genuity SmartStax corn seed and 5% refuge (non-Bt) seed. No separate, structured refuge is needed for either above- or below-ground pests in the Corn Belt. Monsanto does caution that growers planting Genuity SmartStax without the RIB Complete will still need a refuge....More
A Genuity/Roundup Ready 2 Yield platform from Monsanto with high-yield management practices offers growers substantial yield increases in soybeans. Jerry Devore, Asgrow marketing manager, and Lisa Flynn, Genuity traits marketing manager, explain the practices....More
Pioneer Hi-Bred has received EPA approval of Optimum Intrasect insect protection, with a new trait that allows producers to reduce the structured refuge requirement for corn borer from 20% to 5%....More
