New Monsanto Corn Technology Helps Southern Farmers Combat High Corn Earworm Pressure in 2009

Southern farmers are benefiting from new corn trait technology that provides a stronger defense against above-ground pests that feed on ears and can significantly reduce yield potential and damage grain quality.

Over 400 farmers across the South planted demonstration plots this season of Genuity™ VT Triple PRO™ corn, which provides the industry's first-ever modes of action protecting against above-ground insects. Scheduled for a full commercial launch in 2010, this new trait technology gives farmers the broadest-spectrum insect protection against target pests, including one previously uncontrolled earfeeding pest - corn earworm.

Many of the farmers participating in the demonstration program are seeing dramatic evidence of the technology's value, as many regions of the South experience high earworm pressure this season. In many plots, side-by-side comparisons show minimal or no feeding on the Genuity™ VT Triple PRO corn ears, versus visible feeding and kernel damage on corn hybrids with first-generation insect protection, according to Steve Knodle, Monsanto Corn Traits Marketing Manager.

"Research shows that for every three kernels damaged per ear, farmers can lose a bushel per acre in yield," Knodle said. "We want to help farmers protect their yield by delivering higher levels of quality kernels for them at harvest, and the dual modes of action in Genuity™ VT Triple PRO help do that."

Monsanto Corn Technology Protects Grain Quality

William D. Hutchinson, Professor and Extension Entomologist at the University of Minnesota, monitors corn earworm flights via the PestWatch Web site, http://www.pestwatch.psu.edu. PestWatch traps are maintained by hundreds of industry volunteers, state Departments of Agriculture and extension staff.

This season, Hutchinson has observed unusually high counts of moths (100 to 300 per night), particularly in central Arkansas, Georgia, southeastern Missouri, Texas (Lubbuck area) and Kansas. "The direct kernel loss can easily be nine to 12 kernels per larva, which has a major impact on yield," he said. "The other major concern is aflatoxin that can result from ear feeding and further downgrade the yield quality."

First, second and third generation of corn earworms can invade cornfields from spring through mid- to late September, he noted. The moths lay most of their eggs directly on corn silks or green leaf tissue near the ear. When the larvae hatch, he said, they move rapidly down the silk channel to feed on the ear tips or midsection of the ear.

"Historically, it has ususually not been cost-effective for farmers to scout for earworm and pay for an insecticide treatment in field corn," Hutchinson explained. "Timing of insecticide applications is a challenge, and insecticides are too expensive to effectively control the pest in field corn. Genuity™ VT Triple PRO offers more effective protection than the first generation of Bt corn technology products for corn earworm."

Bill O'Neal is seeing firsthand the benefits of Genuity™ VT Triple PRO in the demonstration plot on the farm he manages, Allendale Planting Company, in Shelby, Mississippi. "In our plot, we have not seen any earworm damage to the Genuity™ VT Triple PRO corn," he said. "It is by far an improvement over other technologies. In our comparison hybrids, we are seeing some feeding and damage on the ear tips. Any damage we can prevent through new technology is certainly a benefit to yield."

Dr. Gary Odvody of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, said his field trials involving the new technology also have demonstrated positive performance. "Genuity™ VT Triple PRO offered superior technology compared with the first-generation Bt protein for protection against corn earworm and fall armyworm in my tests," he said. "When exposed to naturally high corn ear insect populations, it not only reduced ear insect damage compared with first-generation technology, but it also had an associated lower aflatoxin content and higher yield."

In addition to above- and below-ground insect control, Genuity™ VT Triple PRO also provides the Roundup Ready® 2 herbicide tolerance trait.

For additional information about this technology, or Monsanto's entire Genuity™ family of traits, visit www.Genuity.com. The Genuity™ brand family of traits supports Monsanto's commitment to help farmers double yields by the year 2030 to meet the world's growing food and energy needs.

A downloadable image may be accessed at: http://www.monsanto.com/Genuity-VT-Triple-PRO

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about Monsanto's business and commitments, please visit http://www.monsanto.com.

Always follow grain marketing and IRM requirements and pesticide label directions. B.t. traited products may not be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for registration status in your area. Acceleron™, Acceleron and Design™, Genuity™, Genuity and Design™, Genuity Icons, Processor Preferred and Design®, Roundup®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design™, VT Triple PRO™, YieldGard®, YieldGard VT and Design®, YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2®, and YieldGard VT Triple® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Respect the Refuge and Corn Design® is a registered trademark of National Corn Growers Association. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2009 Monsanto Company. Belle™ and Southern to the Cob™ is a trademark of Cullum Seeds, LLC.