Heavy rains thwarted the threat of high corn rootworm (CRW) pressure for the past two seasons in the Midwest. This season, however, is turning out to be a different story with many areas experiencing the damaging effects of CRW pressure.

When making a seed purchase, it can be tempting to reduce costs by purchasing hybrids without CRW control technologies, but that leaves seed investments vulnerable to these damaging pests. If CRW attack hybrids without proper control traits, it can result in more money spent on in-season insecticide applications and lost yield.

Post-applied insecticide treatments are not effective in controlling CRW larvae – protection from larvae comes from in-seed trait technology. Because of this, a CRW management program must begin with proper hybrid selection. To ensure that corn plants are able to establish strong roots, achieve their full genetic potential and maximize yield potential, agronomists warn against skipping proper CRW control in geographies that have a history of CRW infestation, especially when planting a corn-on-corn operation.

Planting hybrids without dual modes of CRW control in corn-on-corn fields can result in severe damage and yield loss.

Effective CRW management requires the integration of multiple control measures, not a singular technology. Long term CRW management requires a multi-year, whole farm approach. To get ahead of corn rootworm, Syngenta agronomists recommend the following management options:

• Rotate fields with a non-host crop. In fields that have experienced high CRW pressure, or in corn-on-corn fields, growers may want to rotate to a non-host crop, which provides the best opportunity to break the reproductive cycle of CRW.
• In operations where crop rotation is not an option, plant a multi-stacked trait product. Syngenta recommends that growers use trait stacks containing multiple CRW traits such as Agrisure Duracade® trait stacks, which combine the Agrisure® RW trait with the Agrisure Duracade trait.
• If no CRW trait was planted, use a soil-applied insecticide. Growers should consider an insecticide application such as Force® 3G insecticide which provides control of corn rootworms, wireworms, cutworms, white grubs and other troublesome soil pests.

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