Farmers who are planting transgenic corn hybrids like Bt corn must
follow the Insect Resistant Management guidelines, Ohio State University
entomologists say.
OSU extension entomologist Ron Hammond expects increased Bt hybrid
acres next year to control Western corn rootworm and European corn borers,
but those hybrids need to be carefully managed with non-transgenic
areas."The purpose of employing these practices is to help prevent insects
from developing resistance to the Bt gene," Hammond said. "Growers who fail
to follow IRM requirements risk losing access to corn biotechnology."

A 20 percent refuge of non-transgenic corn must be planted when Bt
corn hybrids are planted. Growers should consult seed dealers for more
information.

More than 40 percent of Ohio's 2007 corn crop was from biotech
varieties, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Of the three main biotechnology types - insect resistant, herbicide
resistant and stacked genes - farmers grew more stacked gene varieties,
increasing their acreage by 15 percent over last year.
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