New Technology Protects America's Corn Crop

New Technology Protects America’s Corn Crop (NAPSA)—Farmers are increasingly depending on new biotech products as important weapons in the battle against two of the corn crop’s biggest enemies—the rootworm and the corn borer. An independent study, which included interviews with more than 350 growers across the corn belt, found that nine out of ten growers who planted YieldGard Rootworm or new YieldGard Plus Corn were highly satisfied with the results. These biotech corn products from Monsanto provide inplant insect protection that enables roots to reach full potential and stalks to stay healthy and strong. YieldGard Plus combines YieldGard Rootworm and YieldGard Corn Borer protection in one seed. In all cases where growers conducted their own on-farm trial of YieldGard Plus or YieldGard Rootworm their satisfaction levels were at least ten percentage points higher with YieldGard protected corn versus seed treatmentsor soil-applied insecticides. Some growers indicated that rootworm pressure levels were higher than previous years. To protect against rootworm pressure, 43 percent of growers surveyed reported that they were using YieldGard Plus or Yield- Corn protected with new YieldGard Plus (right) has healthier, fuller roots than conventional corn. Gard Rootworm on their corn-oncorn acres, while 63 percent said they were using soil or seedapplied treatments. Growers who were not satisfied with soil-applied or seed treatments for rootworm control most often cited poor control and length of control. “One of the advantages of YieldGard Rootworm corn is that the insect control is in the seed,” says Todd DeGooyer, Monsanto Trait Technical Manager. “This approach can provide growers with excellent protection and consistent performance under varying rootworm pressures and environmental conditions.” For more information on Monsanto’s biotech products, visit www.monsanto.com.