Remember to Plant the Refuge
As you head into your fields this spring, be mindful of refuge requirements for all corn hybrids with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) technology.
Refuge is calculated based upon your state and county, as well as the trait(s) you are planting. Click here to download an easy-to-use IRM corn calculator. This calculator will help you determine the number of refuge acres required and planting configurations.
To help simplify the list of requirements for hybrids with Agrisure, YieldGard, Herculex and GenuityTM SmartStaxTM – all of which appear in our current lineup of Latham® Hi-Tech Hybrids – the University of Nebraska Extension recently published, “Bt Corn, Refuges and Insect Resistance Management for 2010.” NOTE: new Genuity SmartStax hybrids have been approved for reduced refuge in the Corn Belt of 5% for both above-and below-ground pests.
Refuges are required to help preserve Bt corn as an effective pest management tool well into the future. For more information about Insect Resistance Management, click here.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandates that a refuge be planted for every B.t. corn field. Respect the Refuge and Corn Design® is a registered trademark of National Corn Growers Association.
