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May
1
Posted by:
WCM Staff
5/1/2008 4:29 PM
Planting Bt corn hybrids this spring? If so, growers are required by law to have an insect resistance management (IRM) plan in place. An IRM plan is implemented by planting refuge corn acres on each farm where a Bt corn hybrid is planted. Refuge corn acres are hybrids that do not contain the Bt insect trait used in the Bt planting.
Insect Resistance Management and Refuge Requirements for Bt Corn
Eileen Cullen, Field Crops Extension Entomologist
Planting Bt corn hybrids this spring? If so, growers are required by law to have an insect resistance management (IRM) plan in place. An IRM plan is implemented by planting refuge corn acres on each farm where a Bt corn hybrid is planted. Refuge corn acres are hybrids that do not contain the Bt insect trait used in the Bt planting.
Planting a refuge is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a condition of Bt corn registration. The purpose of planting a corn refuge on each farm for IRM is to prevent or delay development of insect resistance to Bt traits, thus maintaining effectiveness of Bt crops as a management tool. The refuge must be planted to 20% of corn acreage on each farm where Bt corn is planted, and there are specific configuration and distance requirements for planting the refuge.
A new University of Wisconsin Extension publication. Insect Resistance Management and Refuge Requirements for Bt Corn (UWEX Publication A3857) answers frequently asked questions about IRM and the refuge requirement for Bt corn. In addition to the questions below, Publication A3857 provides diagrams of refuge configuration examples, and a Bt insect trait chart to help distinguish between corn hybrids.
- What is insect resistance management (IRM)?
- Why is IRM important?
- What happens if I don’t plant a refuge?
- Who checks for IRM compliance?
- What are the refuge requirements for single Bt trait hybrids with Lepidoptera (“caterpillar”) protection?
- What are the refuge requirements for single Bt trait hybrids with corn rootworm protection?
- What are the refuge requirements for stacked Bt trait hybrids with both Lepidoptera and corn rootworm protection?
- How do you select the best Bt insect trait package?
- How long will Bt insect traits work?
- Where are Bt traits expressed in the corn plant?
- What if the Bt corn hybrid is not controlling the targeted insect?
Copies can be ordered from the UW Extension Learning Store:
Copies can also be obtained by contacting the UW Madison Nutrient and Pest Management (NPM) program at (608) 265-2660 or npm@hort.wisc.edu; or UW Madison Entomology Department (Eileen Cullen) at (608) 263-9146.
This is also a good time to revisit the National Corn Growers Association Insect Resistance Management Learning Center website, if you have not already done so.
Visit the “Insect Resistance Management Learning Center” at the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) web site www.ncga.com for an online course. From the NCGA home page select the “Grower Resources” tab, then select “Insect Resistance Management”.
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.
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