February 28, 2003
The EPA granted Monsanto a commercial registration for
YieldGard Rootworm corn this week, completing the Agency's
comprehensive environmental safety assessment. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug
Administration completed their reviews of YieldGard Rootworm
corn previously. As a licensee of Monsanto,
LG Seeds, Inc. will offer two
YieldGard Rootworm hybrids to growers in 2003, and plans to
offer additional hybrids for the 2004 growing season. All
YieldGard Rootworm hybrids will be treated with a seed applied
insecticide that provides control of secondary pests.
The USDA has estimated that Northern and Western corn
rootworm costs growers approximately $1 billion each year,
earning this pest the nickname "the billion dollar bug." For the
better part of the last century, corn growers outside of areas
of continuous corn largely relied on crop rotation to protect
their corn crops from the rootworm. However, an evolutionary
change was observed in the last 15 years. In parts of the
country, Western corn rootworms began laying their eggs in
soybean fields, effectively beating rotational practices as the
rootworm larvae emerged the following year in 1st
year corn.
Harry Brokish, Director of Product Development at AgReliant
Genetics’ Champaign, IL research station, says, "In a high
stress environment like Champaign our replicated plots showed a
significant yield variance between the Rootworm and conventional
hybrids." He continued, "There was also a very noticeable
difference in appearance at harvest time. You can walk through
the plots and tell which hybrids were Rootworm hybrids and which
were conventional based solely on the intactness of the plant."
Field-trial research indicates that YieldGard Rootworm is
more effective than insecticides in controlling rootworm. In
2001 and 2002 academic trials across 35 locations, YieldGard
Rootworm provided outstanding control under heavy CRW pressure.
Other key benefits of this technology include:
- Safety – With protection against insect damage built into
the seed, growers are not exposed to conventional pesticides,
usually organophosphates, pyrethroids or carbamates, some of
which have been specifically identified by the EPA as a
priority to be phased out because of their toxicity profile.
- Simplicity – With an in-seed solution, growers have a
simpler approach to insect control than ever before. Likewise,
with this convenience, growers will be able to utilize their
time at planting more efficiently.
- Effectiveness – Rootworm protected corn is an effective
alternative to many of the traditional pesticide treatments.
Insect control is not compromised by factors like weather
conditions that can affect soil and foliar applied treatments,
providing more consistent insect control.
To learn more about YieldGard Rootworm corn, call LG Seeds at
1-800-752-6847. YieldGard Rootworm corn has received the
necessary clearances in the US and Japan. Individual state
approval within the US is required before purchase and planting
of this product. LG Seeds is a supporter of refuge requirements
and proper grain channeling.
YieldGardÒ Rootworm is a
registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC.
LG Seeds, based in Elmwood, IL, is a producer and marketer of
corn and soybean seed operating throughout the U.S. Cornbelt. As
a marketing division of AgReliant Genetics, LLC, which is the
North American joint venture between French Groupe Limagrain and
German KWS SAAT AG, LG Seeds has access to the newest genetic
material and technologies.
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