IRM / Refuge

Insect Resistance Management and Refuge Requirements

The following provides information on:

Insect Resistance Management
Multiple Phase Approach to Insect Resistance Management for YieldGard Corn Products
Comparison of YieldGard® Corn Refuge Requirements in Corn Growing Areas
YieldGard® Corn Borer Refuge Requirements for Cotton Growing Areas

Growers who purchase corn hybrids containing YieldGard corn traits for planting are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) plan. Elements of an IRM program for YieldGard Corn Borer corn, YieldGard Rootworm corn, and YieldGard Plus corn are described in the following sections.

A key component of each IRM plan is the planting of a refuge. A refuge is simply a block or strips of corn that do not contain a "B.t" technology for the control of the insect pests which are controlled by the planted YieldGard corn technology(ies). The lack of exposure to the B.t. proteins ensures that susceptible insects are nearby to mate with any rare resistant insects that may emerge form YieldGard corn hybrids. Susceptibility to the YieldGard corn products is then passed on to their offspring, preserving the long-term effectiveness of the technology.

Failure to follow IRM requirements and properly plant a refuge may result in the loss of access to YieldGard corn technology. Repeated failures to implement IRM requirements will results in your loss of access to this valuable technology. Please do your part to ensure that YieldGard corn technology is preserved by implementing an IRM Plan on your farm.

Refer to the Stewardship IRM section of the Technical Use Guide for additional information regarding the YieldGard IRM Monitoring Program.

Multiple Phase Approach to Insect Resistance Management for YieldGard Corn Products

Adding a refuge to corn production programs is a requirement for resistance management. For the most effective results, researchers recommend a multiple phase approach.

Plant corn hybrids with YieldGard Technologies to provide consistent protection of corn fields from corn borer and corn rootworm throughout the larval feeding periods.
Plant a corn refuge block or strips close to the YieldGard Technologies corn. The block and strips will serve as a refuge to support the survival of susceptible corn borers and corn rootworm.
Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to preserve the natural enemies of corn borer, corn rootworm and other insect pests. Natural predators such as ground beetles and ants can help reduce corn borer and corn rootworm larval populations. YieldGard Technology insect protection aids IPM because it affects only specific insect pests and allows the survival of beneficial insects.
Growers should monitor their YieldGard Technology corn fields and contact their seed dealer or Monsanto at 1-800-951-9511 if they observe any performance problems.

For more information refer to the Monsanto Technology Use Guide.

Comparison of YieldGard® Corn Refuge Requirements in Corn Growing Areas

% Refuge	20% non-corn borer B.t. corn	20% non-B.t. rootworm protected corn	20% non-B.t. corn (common refuge plan only). See the Technology Use Guide for details on separate refuge option.
Configurations	Separate Field, Block, Perimeter, Split Planter	Block, Split Planter, Perimeter, Adjacent Field	Block, Split Planter, Perimeter, Adjacent Field
Configurations	Refuge within a ½ mile (1/4 mile preferred)	Refuge adjacent to or within YieldGard Rootworm field	Refuge adjacent to or with YieldGard Plus field
Consecutive Row Planted in Strips	Split Planter four rows (six rows preferred)	Split Planter six rows (12 rows preferred)	Split Planter six rows (12 rows preferred)

YieldGard® Corn Borer Refuge Requirements for Cotton Growing Areas

In the cotton-growing areas shown below, there are special refuge requirements for YieldGard Corn Borer corn;

On each farm, plant up to 50 percent of the corn acres with YieldGard Corn Borer corn. Plant a minimum of 50 percent of the 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. Sprayable B.t. insecticides must not be applies to the refuge corn.
Plant the corn refuge within, adjacent to, or near the YieldGard Corn Borer corn fields.
The refuge must be placed within ½ mile of the YieldGard Corn Borer field (1/4 mile or closer preferred).

Cotton Growing Areas:

Oklahoma counties of: Texas all counties except:

Beckham Carson

Caddo Dallam

Comanche Hansford

Custer Hartley

Greer Hutchinson

Harmon Lipscomb

Jackson Moore

Kay Ochiltree

Kiowa Roberts

Tilman Sherman

Washita

Before opening a bag of seed, be sure to read and understand the stewardship requirements, including applicable refuge requirements for insect resistance management, for the biotechnology traits expressed in the seed as set forth in the Monsanto Technology Agreement that you sign. By opening and using a bag of seed, you are reaffirming your obligation to comply with those stewardship requirements.

Monsanto Company is a member of BIO’s Excellence through StewardshipSM (ETS) Initiative. This product has been commercialized in compliance with the ETS and Monsanto Product Launch Stewardship policies, after meeting applicable regulatory requirements in 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. Monsanto encourages growers to talk to their grain handler to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence through StewardshipSM is a service mark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

B.t. traited products may not be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for the registration status in your state.

Always Read and Follow Pesticide Label Directions. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® agricultural herbicides. Roundup® agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Roundup®, Roundup Ready®, YieldGard®, YieldGard VT® and Design, YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2®, YieldGard VT Triple® and YieldGard VT Triple PRO™ are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2009 Monsanto Company.

As of 01/12/09