Corn
Growers Maintained High Levels of IRM Adherence in 2004 (01-06-05)
For the fifth
year in a row, a large majority of corn growers are adhering to
insect resistance management (IRM) requirements designed for corn
borer resistant Bt corn, according to an annual survey required
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
More than 550
Bt corn growers in the Corn Belt and Cotton Belt were interviewed
for the survey during the 2004 growing season. The results from
the survey, which was conducted by an independent research firm
for the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee
(ABSTC), highlight that more than nine out of 10 growers, or 91
percent, met regulatory requirements for IRM refuge size, while
96 percent met refuge distance requirements.
According NCGA
President Leon Corzine, these results validate corn growers’
commitment to being good stewards of Bt technology as well as the
effectiveness of a comprehensive, ongoing IRM awareness effort spearheaded
by NCGA, the Bt corn registrants and other key stakeholders.
“Awareness
is key to informed decision-making about why and how to comply with
IRM refuge requirements,” said Corzine. “Product stewardship
is everyone’s responsibility. As growers, we understand the
economic and environmental benefits that Bt technology provides
and want to do what we can to make sure Bt corn remains effective
against pests and is a tool that is readily available for all of
us.”
Each of the
four Bt corn registrants -- Dow AgroSciences; Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
Inc; Monsanto Company and Syngenta Seeds, Inc. -- are engaged in
an aggressive and broad-based awareness campaign aimed at ensuring
that Bt corn growers understand their IRM obligations, including
extensive efforts that have been undertaken by the registrants individually,
as well as coordinated efforts among the registrants and other stakeholders,
such as NCGA and cooperative extension services. Some of these efforts
include informative collateral material, a Web-based IRM training
module, on-farm visits and other education and compliance based
activities.
The Compliance
Assurance Program (CAP) is another factor that has contributed to
IRM awareness in the grower community. Introduced by the seed industry
in 2002, the CAP was developed to further inform growers about the
importance of complying with IRM requirements and how to implement
them on their farms. Under the CAP, Growers who do not meet their
IRM refuge requirements in two consecutive years can be denied access
to Bt corn borer resistant corn in the third year by their Bt corn
seed provider.
“Our experience
has been that, as the number of information resources available
to growers increases, so does compliance with the requirements,”
said Corzine.
We’re clearly seeing the fruits of effort and will continue
to work hard to meet our industry’s stewardship responsibility
around this technology. The seed industry recognizes the importance
of maintaining diligence in minimizing insect resistance and is
committed to helping growers meet the IRM requirements. Being good
stewards benefits our customers, industry and agriculture,”
he continued.
Survey results indicate that seed company and one-on-one dealer
interaction has been a critical factor in getting the word out to
farmers. Ninety-six percent of survey participants ranked seed dealers
and their seed companies as “important” sources of information
— with 85% of growers recalling they had an individual conversation
with a seed company representative.
Not only did
the majority of survey respondents indicate they were aware of IRM
requirements, but 96 percent of Bt corn growers said they received
enough information to properly implement a refuge in 2004, which
is seven percentage points higher than 2002 and 22 percentage points
higher than 2001 survey results.
The IRM requirements
established by the EPA, the Bt corn registrants and academics in
1999 obligate growers to plant at least a 20 percent refuge —
that is, corn that does not contain a Bt gene for controlling corn
borers — and ensure every Bt cornfield is located within one
half mile of a refuge. In certain corn/cotton areas of the South,
growers are required to plant at least a 50 percent corn refuge.
These IRM refuge requirements were enacted to help minimize the
probability of corn insect pests, such as the European corn borer,
from developing resistance to Bt technology, enabling the technology
to be used well into the future.
Corzine also credited the EPA for using both science-based as well
as farmer-friendly practical information in developing refugre requirements.
“The result is high compliance rates and a system that works,”
he said. “After more than six years of using the technology,
we have not found even one resistant corn borer in the growing fields
of America.”
Looking ahead
to the 2005 growing season, Corzine suggests growers consult with
their seed dealers and seed company representatives to help ensure
they understand and meet IRM requirements. Growers also can visit
the “Know Before You Grow” section of www.ncga.com for
more information on Bt corn and the IRM requirements.