DTN and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) hosted a free web seminar last week on Bt Corn Insect Resistance (IRM) and refuges. If you missed the DTN/NCGA online event last Friday, you can now view and listen to the program on Bt Corn IRM and refuges.
Bt Corn Insect Resistance Management Audio/Visual Resource Online
Eileen Cullen, Field Crop Extension Entomologist
DTN and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) hosted a free web seminar last week on Bt Corn Insect Resistance (IRM) and refuges. Please see last week’s issue of the
Wisconsin Crop Manager for more information on Bt Corn IRM and refuge requirements, and details on ordering the new UW Extension publication A3857
Insect Resistance Management and Refuge Requirements for Bt Corn http://ipcm.wisc.edu/WCMNews/tabid/53/EntryID/507/Default.aspx
If you missed the DTN/NCGA online event last Friday, you can now view and listen to the program on Bt Corn IRM and refuges. The session was designed for corn farmers, Extension specialists, county agricultural agents, crop consultants and other educators.
2. A person can view it one of two ways, either by watching it online or downloading. (To download most people will need to download the Webex software, they’re prompted to do that).
3. The easiest way to view it is to click on the link above, and hit the “playback” button. It will take a couple to a few minutes, then the slide set and audio will begin.
4. The online presentation is 52 minutes.
DTN/NCGA described the need for this web program as follows: “In 2007, the number of acres planted to Bt corn hybrids has increased. At the same time, compliance with non-Bt corn refuge requirements has been falling, from a high of 95 percent compliance in 2003 down to near 80 percent in 2007*. Farmers, pressed for both planting time given the general lateness of the season and wanting to maximize profits on each corn acre may particularly be tempted to ignore refuge acre requirements this spring.”
*Bt corn IRM refuge compliance estimates as reported by the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee.
The NCGA and DTN audio/visual seminar was moderated by DTN Production Editor Greg Horstmeier. Presenters included:
Kevin Steffey, Extension entomologist at the University of Illinois.
Dr. Steffey has been involved in the issue of corn insect resistance management and the federal IRM guidelines since their inception in the early 1990s.
Martin Barbre, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association
Biotech Working Group.
A corn farmer from Carmi, Ill., Martin is a partner in Chestin Farms with his son and
son-in-law. Barbre will discuss NCGA’s new educational efforts in insect resistance management.
Nick Storer, chairman of the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee, and Global Science Policy Leader, Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs for Dow AgroSciences.
Storer discussed seed companies' latest efforts to promote refuse requirements.
One specific question on the minds of UW Extension county agents going into last week’s DTN/NCGA web conference relates to the signed grower technology agreement farmers are required to have in place at the time of Bt corn seed purchase. At the time of seed purchase, farmers enter into a contractual agreement with the company supplying the Bt corn hybrid.
“Bt corn registrants and seed companies must obtain signed Grower or Technology agreements from farmers who purchase insect protected Bt hybrids. This is important because these agreements contractually bind the grower to comply with IRM requirements. Growers should not plant Bt corn unless they have signed the Grower/Technology agreement with the company selling the Bt corn product. If you haven’t signed such as agreement, contact your seed dealer or the seed company immediately to get signed up.” -
from the NCGA Insect Resistance Management Learning Center website. www.ncga.com
The question from UW Extension educators asked whether a farmer is required to sign a new grower technology agreement with each and every bag of Bt corn seed or if having the signed agreement on file with the seed company is sufficient and covers purchases through that seed dealer. I asked this question of moderator Greg Horstmeier during the DTN/NCGA web seminar and he posed the question to presenter Nick Storer (chairmanof the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee, and Global Science Policy Leader, Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs for Dow AgroSciences).
Nick clarified that the signed grower technology agreement is an ‘Evergreen’ document, it must be on file and accessible by the seed company at the time of Bt corn hybrid seed purchase by the farmer, but does not need to be signed anew with each bag of seed. If you have not signed such an agreement to comply with Insect Resistance Management and refuges, contact each seed dealer or seed company you purchase Bt corn seed from to get signed up.