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Be sure to stay on top of Bt corn hybrid requirements this planting seasonNebraska As planting season progresses, it's important corn growers review current requirements for use of Bt corn hybrids, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln entomologist says. As part of corn companies' registration of these hybrids with the Environmental Protection Agency, resistance management plans, including planting a non-Bt hybrid refuge area on each farm, are required, said Bob Wright, UNL Extension entomologist. "These plans are designed to prolong the effective life of these important tools we have for corn insect management," Wright said. Growers should have signed an agreement with their seed company and received written materials describing the Bt corn resistance management plan associated with their hybrids, he said. Specifics of resistance management plans vary somewhat dependent on whether the hybrid is active against European corn borer, corn rootworm, or stacked to contain both Bt types. "A non-Bt hybrid refuge must be planted on each farm, containing at least 20 percent of the corn acres on the farm," Wright said. "The refuge must be treated similarly to the Bt corn plantings, including rotational history, irrigation, etc." For example, if the Bt corn field is corn after corn and irrigated, then the refuge also should be. Some differences exist between refuge requirements for different types of Bt corn hybrids. These include: --Bt corn hybrids active against European corn borer, such as YieldGard Corn Borer, Herculex I, Agrisure CB, must have a refuge planted no farther than one-half mile from the Bt corn field. --Bt corn hybrids active against corn rootworms, such as YieldGard RW, YieldGard VT, Herculex RW, Agrisure RW, must have the refuge planted within the Bt corn field or in a field immediately adjacent to the Bt corn field. --If the Bt corn hybrid contains Bt proteins effective against both corn rootworms and European corn borers, such as YieldGard Plus, YieldGard VT Triple, Herculex XTRA, Agrisure CB/RW, the refuge requirements for corn rootworms must be followed. "Growers need to take the time and keep good records of which hybrids are planted in which fields and ensure that the appropriate refuges are planted for each Bt corn field that they plant," Wright said. "Good records will be useful if growers are inspected for their compliance with the registration requirements for Bt corn." 5/26/08 Date: 5/21/08
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