When it comes to corn rootworm, SmartStax® PRO with RNAi Technology knocks out the competition in medium to very high corn rootworm pressure environments.*
In the same study, SmartStax® PRO with RNAi Technology beats Qrome® products*
ST. LOUIS (Sept 30, 2021) — Bayer has long expressed confidence in its corn traits portfolio — and the most recent data doesn’t disappoint. SmartStax® Technology and SmartStax® PRO with RNAi Technology offered significantly better corn rootworm protection vs. the competition in 34 Bayer trials in medium to very high corn rootworm pressure environments.*
“We have complete confidence in our corn rootworm products — SmartStax® Technology and SmartStax® PRO Technology. These trials confirm SmartStax® PRO with RNAi Technology, which offers three modes of action against corn rootworm, provides the strongest biotech defense against corn rootworm available in 2022,*” said Travis Coffman, corn and regional crops trait marketing manager. “While the data tells the story, our agronomists could tell even as we were pulling the plants from the field. You could see the difference.”
This season, large strip trials were conducted across the Corn Belt to evaluate systems approaches for corn rootworm, analyzing products in the 95-115 RM range. Bayer corn products evaluated included:
- SmartStax® PRO RIB Complete® corn blend
- SmartStax® RIB Complete® corn blend
- Competitor products evaluated included:
- Qrome® products and Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme products from Corteva Agriscience™
- Agrisure Duracade® E-Z Refuge® products from Syngenta
Researchers collected data from 40 locations across 10 states (KS, CO, NE, IA, IL, ND, SD, OH, MN and WI).[# There were no significant differences between corn rootworm technologies at the six low corn rootworm pressure locations.#]* SmartStax® Technology provided significantly better corn rootworm protection vs. Qrome® products at 34 medium to very high corn rootworm pressure environments.** For SmartStax® PRO Technology, results showed three times greater root node protection from corn rootworm vs. Qrome® products in medium to very high corn rootworm pressure environments.* The study represents Bayer’s most comprehensive root node damage research to date.
“The trials showed that both SmartStax® Technology and SmartStax® PRO Technology offered significantly better protection against corn rootworm than Qrome® products across 34 medium to very high corn rootworm pressure environments.* Protection beats polish, you might say,” said Coffman.
Corn rootworm damage includes feeding scars, tunneling and pruning. Corn rootworm damage was measured and determined using the Iowa State node injury score scale (NIS0-3). In head-to-head comparisons against Qrome® products across 34 locations with medium to very high corn rootworm pressure, SmartStax® Technology had less average corn rootworm damage in 79% of the trials, and SmartStax® PRO Technology had less average corn rootworm damage in 100% of the trials, which is no surprise given SmartStax® PRO Technology’s three modes of action against corn rootworm.*
Corn rootworm pressure is on the rise. Scouting and planning are key to staying ahead of a pest that costs farmers more than $1 billion annually in crop damage and increased control costs. Crop rotation and other best management practices are highly recommended. SmartStax® PRO Technology and SmartStax® Technology provide another tool to help reduce corn rootworm damage in medium to high corn rootworm pressure environments.*
In addition to corn rootworm, SmartStax® PRO Technology can offer farmers protection against above-ground pests including European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, fall armyworm, black cutworm and corn earworm.
Trait innovation is just one tool in the fight against corn rootworm. Bayer has also provided close to 2,000 sticky trap kits to farmers through The Watch, a resource created to help refresh corn rootworm scouting knowledge and drive action toward managing corn rootworm. InsectForecast.com is another resource that offers an easy way to track hatches and beetle movement throughout the Corn Belt, helping farmers understand current and future pressures.
Volumes of SmartStax® PRO Technology will be limited for 2022.[##] Farmers who are interested in trying this new technology should contact their local Bayer representative and visit SmartStaxPRO.com to learn more about the product.
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*34 2021 Bayer Trials in the corn belt (KS, CO, NE, IA, IL, ND, SD, OH, MN) in medium to very high CRW pressure environments (as shown by a Node Injury Score of 0.76-3.0 on a 0-3 scale in the non-CRW traited check) vs SmartStax® RIB Complete® Corn Blend, Agrisure Duracade® E-Z Refuge®, Qrome® products and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtreme products in the 95-115 RM range with comparable trait packages.
**40 2021 Bayer Trials in the corn belt (KS, CO, NE, IA, IL, ND, SD, OH, MN, WI) in various CRW pressure environments (as shown by a Node Injury Score of 0.5-3.0 on a 0-3 scale in the non-CRW traited check) vs SmartStax® RIB Complete® Corn Blend, Agrisure Duracade® E-Z Refuge®, Qrome® products and Optimum® AcreMax® Xtreme products in the 95-115 RM range with comparable trait packages.
***Locations having a Node Injury Score of > 0.5 - < 0.75 on a 0-3 scale in the non-CRW traited check).
[##]SmartStax® PRO corn products will be commercially available for the 2022 growing season.
Bayer is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Bayer products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Bayer’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.
SmartStax® PRO corn products will be commercially available for the 2022 growing season.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed brand representative for the registration status in your state.
SmartStax® multi-event technology developed by Bayer and Dow AgroSciences.
IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: RIB Complete® corn blend products do not require the planting of a structured refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn earworm is a significant pest. See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.
Performance may vary, from location to location and from year to year, as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible and should consider the impacts of these conditions on the grower’s fields.
Roundup Ready® 2 Technology contains genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate. Glyphosate will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® is a trademark of BASF Corporation. Respect the Refuge and Corn Design® and Respect the Refuge® are registered trademarks of National Corn Growers Association. Bayer, Bayer Cross, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design™, Roundup Ready®, SmartStax® and VT Double PRO® are trademarks of Bayer Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2021 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.
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Contact:
Brian Leake
Crop Science Division of Bayer
Tel: (314) 370-3285
Email: brian.leake@bayer.com