During this time in farming, every acre and every plant count towards the bottom line and the value of our exports. Farmers are doing a good job of working against the curveballs that Mother Nature is throwing at us, while at the same time seeing to the nutrition of their crops. However, weather and health aren?t the only issues we face in production. There are critters out there who are hungry and look at our fields like they are an all-you-can-eat buffet. One of these pests is the corn rootworm. This is no longer just a fight; it is a war.
Corn rootworm does not distinguish between farms and hybrids. It has a single mission and that is to eat all the corn plants that it can and propagate the species. They are the ?billion-dollar pest? as their havoc has reached the 10-digit range. They start early and you must be prepared for them. Farmers in Northern Iowa and other parts of the Midwest have been seeing their uptick in previous years.
The strategy of reacting is no longer working. You must hit them before they hit you. That is why Bayer is working to advance their traits and their weapons against the corn rootworm. When it comes to products you are putting in the field, it all starts with the seeds you have in the bag. Bayer is proud their SmartStax? Technology is leading the attack in midwestern cornfields. New for 2022 is a product called SmartStax? Pro with RNAi Technology. Travis Coffman is the Traits Marketing Manager for Corn and Regional Crops with Bayer. He talks about what they have seen on the data they have gathered.
However, traits are not the only arrow in your quiver when it comes to combatting corn rootworms. Crop rotation is the first agronomic tool you should consider. Rotating corn on corn acres is a strong defense against rootworms. Combining that with new traits and the latest technology can do a lot to give you success in your fight with these pests. Coffman talks about strategies more in-depth.
Coffman reminds producers that SmartStax? Pro with RNAi Technology will be in a limited run for 2022. So, if you are wanting to get your hands on it for this next growing year, talk with your Bayer retailers now.
Learn more about this new weapon by visiting the Bayer website.
