December 20, 2002

For the third year in a row, a large majority of corn growers responsibly managed Bt hybrids, according to a recent survey required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The survey confirmed that corn growers are practicing good stewardship and properly following Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements to help avoid corn insect pests, such as the European corn borer, from developing resistance to Bt corn.

More than 550 growers responded to the survey conducted during the 2002 growing season among Bt corn users in the Corn Belt and Cotton Belt. The survey was conducted in cooperation with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) by an independent research firm for the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC).

"Bt corn hybrids provide growers with many economic and environmental benefits as well as improved grain quality in many cases," said NCGA Biotech Working Group Chairman Leon Corzine, a corn grower from Assumption, Ill. "Following the IRM requirements is very important. Growers need to make sure they understand the requirements now so they can plan for this coming spring accordingly."

There are two main IRM requirements established by the EPA that growers must follow when planting Bt corn. One involves the size of the non-Bt corn refuge and the other involves the distance between Bt corn and the refuge. EPA requirements say growers must maintain at least a 20 percent non-Bt corn refuge. In certain corn/cotton areas of the South, growers are required to plant at least a 50 percent non-Bt corn refuge. In all areas, every Bt cornfield must be located within one half mile of a refuge cornfield.

The survey found 86 percent of growers who planted Bt corn in 2002 met at least the minimum refuge size IRM requirement. Eighty-nine percent of growers (and 94% of Bt corn fields) met the distance requirement.

What's more, the survey results indicate that almost 80% of the growers who used insecticides regularly (four or five of the previous five years) report decreasing their insecticide use to control corn borers since the introduction of Bt corn.

The survey results also confirmed findings from previous years that the vast majority of growers (93%) believe IRM is important. The survey showed a sharp increase in grower awareness and familiarity of IRM requirements in 2002. Eighty-eight percent of Bt corn growers said they were aware of IRM requirements, which is 8 percentage points higher than in 2001. Additionally, 89 percent of Bt corn growers said they received enough information to properly implement a refuge in 2002, an increase from 74 percent in 2001.

"These results reflect the industry's and growers' commitment to understand and meet IRM requirements," said Michael Phillips, executive director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). "Our experience has been that, as the number of information resources available to growers increases, so does compliance with the requirements."

According to the survey, most growers recall having received on average four pieces of IRM information each year. Additionally, a new IRM Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) required by EPA was recently introduced to further educate and train those growers not meeting the IRM requirements. Under the CAP, seed companies must conduct on-farm visits to check for compliance and deny access to Bt corn to growers and dealers who repeatedly do not meet their IRM stewardship obligations.

Corzine and Phillips both suggest growers consult with their seed dealers and seed company representatives as they finalize plans for the 2003 growing season. Growers also can visit www.ncga.com for more information on Bt corn and the IRM requirements.

Annual survey reports are required under the EPA registrations for Bt corn held by each of the companies.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC) includes Bt corn registrants Dow AgroSciences; Monsanto Company; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., A DuPont Company; and Syngenta Seeds, Inc. The committee is working with the EPA to enforce IRM compliance. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), along with various seed companies and universities, all support the Committee's IRM compliance efforts. For additional information on biotechnology, go to www.ncga.com.

The Mission of the NCGA staff is to execute programs under the direction of the NCGA Corn Board to provide professional, quality service to our state checkoff and association members.