SPECIAL PRODUCT & SERVICE INFORMATION
IRM Requirements for YieldGard Corn Borer
In corn growing areas, plant up to 80 percent of corn acres with YieldGard Corn Borer corn on each farm. Plant at least 20 percent of the total corn acres to a corn refuge that does not contain a B.t. technology for control of European or southwestern corn borer. The refuge corn can be treated with insecticides only when the level of pest pressure meets or exceeds economic thresholds.
Refuge Configuration Options
(A) Plant a separate corn refuge within 1/2 mile of each B.t. corn field (1/4 mile preferred).
(B) Plant a 20 percent corn refuge as strips or blocks within a B.t. field (corn growing areas).
(C) Split the planter to alternate four or more rows (six or more preferred) of corn refuge with B.t. corn.
(D) Plant field perimeters of end rows to a corn refuge.
IRM Requirements for YieldGard Rootworm or
YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2TM
On each farm, plant up to 80 percent of corn acres with YieldGard Rootworm or YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 corn. Plant at least 20 percent of the total corn acres to a corn refuge that does not contain a B.t. technology for control of western, northern and Mexican corn rootworm. The corn refuge can be treated for corn rootworm larvae and other soil pests with soil-applied, seed-applied or foliar-applied insecticides. The corn refuge can be treated with a non-B.t. insecticide to control late season pests such as corn borer, however the YieldGard Rootworm or YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 corn must also be treated.
Corn refuge options include YieldGard Corn Borer, YieldGard Corn Borer/Roundup Ready Corn 2, Roundup Ready Corn 2, and conventional corn, but no other B.t. product for corn rootworm management.
Plant the refuge within or adjacent to YieldGard Rootworm or YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2 corn fields. The corn refuge can be separated by a ditch or a road but not by another field. Adjacent refuge fields must be owned by or managed by the grower.
IRM Requirements for YieldGard Plus or YieldGard VT Triple
Common Refuge Requirements
On each farm, up to 80 percent of corn acres can be planted with YieldGard Plus or YieldGard VT Triple corn. The refuge area must represent at least 20 percent of the grower's total corn acres. The refuge must be within or adjacent to the YieldGard Plus or YieldGard VT Triple field and can be planted as a block, strips within the field, or as a perimeter around the field. If perimeter or infield strips are used for the refuge, the strips must be at least four consecutive rows wide.
Separate Refuge
For selected farms in the western corn growing region that typically have high levels of corn borer infestation, there could be significant yield risk associated with planting a common refuge for YieldGard Plus or YieldGard VT Triple. In these situations a second refuge is available to growers: planting a separate refuge of corn borers and a separate refuge for corn rootworms. The corn rootworm refuge must represent at least 20 percent of the grower's total corn acres. The corn borer refuge must represent at least 20 percent of the grower's total corn borer-protected areas. Under this option, the corn borer refuge can be treated with a foliar insecticide if economic thresholds are met; the YieldGard Plus or YieldGard VT Triple field would NOT have to be treated in a similar manner under this option. The corn rootworm refuge can be protected from corn borer damage by planting a B.t. corn borer-protected product (e.g., YieldGard Corn Borer). This separate refuge option provides flexibility to manage corn borers.
IRM Requirements for Herculex® XTRA
Corn - In the corn belt, (non-cotton) growing areas, up to 80 percent of corn acres may be planted with Herculex® XTRA corn. With this option, you must plant at least 20 percent of corn acres with non-B.t. corn. If you plant more than one brand of B.t. corn that is resistant to both corn borer and corn rootworm, at least 20 percent of your total acres must be planted with non-B.t. corn in to meet these refuge requirements.
Cotton - In cotton-growing areas, you may plant up to 50 percent of corn acres with Herculex XTRA or a combination of B.t. corn brands that are resistant to corn borer and corn rootworm. You must plant at least 50 percent with non-B.t. corn.
Roundup Ready® Soybeans - Simple, Flexible, Dependable
Higher satisfaction with lower costs. More consistent weed control with less effort. It's why the Roundup Ready® Soybean System is your clear advantage.
SIMPLE - Taking the complexity out of soybean production. Perfect for reduced or no-till operations, Roundup Ready Soybean varieties contain in-plant tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicides. Just spray over the top from emergence through flowering for simple, flexible and dependable weed control, proven crop safety and maximum yield potential.
FLEXIBLE - Apply Roundup agricultural herbicides when you need to. Roundup Ready Soybeans provide the flexibility to make applications when you need it. You can consistently achieve excellent weed control and maximum yield potential with the Roundup Ready Soybean System. It's one great advantage that keeps farmers coming back year-after-year.
DEPENDABLE - More time to spend where you need it most. With the Roundup Ready Soybean System, you'll be able to take advantage of unsurpassed weed control, time savings and flexibility. The Roundup Ready System takes guesswork out of application and makes weed control a snap - even with reduced tillage.
Seed Stewardship
Developing a new biotech trait requires 7-10 years and $50-100 million in research and development. Patents help preserve that investment and seed trait value for all growers.
The National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy (NCFAP) estimates biotech traits in eight major crops have incrementally increased the value to growers. The NCFAP estimates grower benefits from biotechnology in 2005 included(1):
· Incremental yield increase of 8.3 billion pounds
· Reduction in production costs of $1.4 billion
· Reduction in pesticide use by 69.7 million pounds
· A net economic impact of $2.0 billion
· Economic benefits in all 42 states where biotech crops were grown
· Pesticide reductions were greatest in
Corn - 29 million pounds
Soybeans - 21 million pounds
· Biotech corn produced 366 million gallons of ethanol
Growers increasingly recognize the environmental benefits of biotech crops:
· Easier to employ no-till production practices
· Soil is undisturbed
· Less erosion, pesticide and water runoff
· 24/7 in-plant protection
(1) National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, Nov. 2006, "Qualification of the Impacts on U.S. Agriculture of Biotechnology - Derived Crops Planted in 2005."
Payment and Financing Options
Lewis Hybrids offers Farm Plan financing options to provide input financing solutions. Farm Plan is a dependable source of credit providing approved customers with increased purchasing power and flexible payment options. It is also a convenient way to pay for your Lewis Hybrids seed purchases. Depending on the best solution for your individual situation, Lewis offers multiple choices with most programs still qualifying for Lewis Hybrids cash discounts.
Once approved, take advantage of interest free seasonal terms and a deferred harvest payment option with an approved Farm Plan Input Finance limit or use your regular Farm Plan limit. Farm Plan is simple and convenient with flexible payment terms. If you are not currently a Farm Plan customer, completing the application is easy and straightforward and processing your application is fast. Apply online at www.farmplan.com or call your local Lewis Dealer District Sales Manager or our office for details.