Retailers and corn growers face an ever-growing array of insect control products with varying claims for control of insects and disease. Helping your customers choose the best product for their cropping system involves evaluating corn rootworm type and pressure, secondary pests, cropping systems and yield goals.

“One size doesn't fit all when it comes to corn insecticides, and retailers can help their customers make an informed purchase through the use of a decision tree,” says Greg Perrigo, marketing product manager, Bayer CropScience.

“The decision tree looks at corn rootworm pressure in addition to factors such as extended diapause, soil types, yield potential and other insect pressure,” Perrigo says.

Perrigo acknowledges that, after the record corn harvest in 2004, it's sometimes hard to identify yield loss. “Despite record yields, some growers didn't get the yields they expected,” he says. “For instance, Aztec soil insecticide corn out-yielded CRW corn in some areas.”

Basic soil fungus levels have been recognized for more than 40 years, yet their role in yield reduction often remains misunderstood.

“With the addition of fungicides to seed treatments for corn insect control, growers are acknowledging that disease has always been a part of corn production,” says Mark Jirak, seed treatment crop manager for Syngenta Crop Protection.

“The improvement in corn stands and early-season vigor with treated seed is especially evident with today's early planting dates, no or minimum tillage systems, and increased plant populations,” he adds.

Despite all the marketing and hype surrounding seed treatments, the first place to start is yield. Selecting a high-yielding hybrid suited to the customer's growing conditions and cropping system is key; all other insect- and weed-control options are secondary.

Although convenience plays a major role with large-acreage producers, the bottom line remains cost. With seed corn costs approaching $225/bag, growers need to weigh the cost of convenience with yield potential.

Once retailers and growers have selected the hybrids and treatments, they need to review any marketing restrictions placed on the technology and their yields. For instance, while the U.S. and Japanese markets have approved the corn rootworm trait for human consumption, the European Union has not.

Multiple traits in a single hybrid can create more confusion. “You have one trait that is approved in all markets, but another trait in the hybrid might not be approved in the EU,” says Dave Rhylander, director of traits for Monsanto. “Seed companies, commodity groups and retailers can all help educate the grower on grain-channeling requirements.

“Retailers also serve an important role in helping to educate farmers about the federal requirements of refuges for Bt trait technologies, like corn borer and corn rootworm traits,” Rhylander says.

According to Hank King, marketing specialist for Dow AgroSciences, products such as Lorsban 15G or Lorsban 4E, applied in a T-band at planting, are excellent choices for growers combating corn rootworm and secondary pest problems on corn rootworm and Bt refuges.

“However, if growers don't want to deal with refuges or have concerns about the marketability of CRW and Bt corn, it can be a lot easier to simply use a proven granular insecticide on their entire field,” King says.

More information on refuge requirements for these corn trait technologies is available at www.ncga.com/biotechnology/insectMgmtPlan/Your_Farm/MAIN.htm.

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