The National Corn Growers Association is encouraging farmers to add another thing onto their checklist of things to consider: how to control corn rootworms properly and efficiently.
According to the NCGA’s Director of Biotechnology and Crop Inputs Nicole Hasheider, you could be at an increased risk for rootworm damage if any of the following are true:
• You planted the same CRW traits for consecutive years in the same fields.
• You noticed large populations of CRW beetles.
• You observed root injury from CRW larvae.
• Your fields are planted to continuous corn.
“Bt traits are an invaluable tool for defending plants from corn rootworm,” says Hasheider. “But it’s important to take steps that preserve their effectiveness long-term and use management strategies that integrate multiple control options.”
The NCGA recommends rotating traits as often as possible to deter resistance development as well as varying they use as often as is feasible.
According to Hasheider, keeping good records is also critical to tracking pressure in specific fields and your level of success.
The organization says corn rootworm caused about $1 billion in damage last year.