Starting strong with Stine brand seed corn is the best way to get off to a good growing season. But Nature is remarkably resilient and is able to come up with a new way to vex growers every day.

Almost as quickly as someone comes up with a solution to pest and weed problems, Nature finds a way around it, producing weeds and insects which are resistant to our best protection tools. But there are things you can do to help prevent resistance on your farm.

Pest Resistance Management

Biotechnology has brought about great advances in the field of crop health, but perhaps none has had a bigger impact on the corn crop than in-plant insect resistance.  U.S. corn acres planted to insect-resistant corn have skyrocketed in the past few years, spurred on by the effectiveness-and convenience-these traits provide.

But, in the past, crop pests have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to develop natural resistance to many of the most widely used types of pest control.  Because of this, the risk of insects developing resistance to in-plant protection traits is very real.

Because of this, the best way to preserve the benefits of Stine hybrids featuring YieldGard® Corn Borer, YieldGard® Plus, or YieldGard® VT Triple technology is to develop and implement a comprehensive Insect Resistance Management (IRM) plan.

In addition to preserving the effectiveness of YieldGard® technologies, adoption of IRM practices:

• Helps ensure compliance with EPA-mandated requirements.
• Allows beneficial insects to thrive, preserving the natural enemies of corn borer, corn rootworm, and other insect pests.
• Helps to preserve the value of YieldGard technologies for the future.

Below are general guidelines for planting of refuge acres for YieldGard insect-protected corn:

YieldGard Corn Borer Plant corn hybrids with YieldGard Corn Borer to ensure that an effective dose of B.t. is available for corn borer throughout the plant, throughout the season.  This will control nearly all susceptible corn borer. Plant a corn refuge block close to the YieldGard Corn Borer corn.  The block will serve as a refuge to support the survival of susceptible corn borer.

YieldGard Plus/ YieldGard VT Triple Plant corn hybrids with YieldGard Plus/YieldGard VT Triple to provide effective and 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 Plus/YieldGard VT Triple corn.  Blocks and strips will serve as refuge to support survival of susceptible corn borer and corn rootworm.

Percent Refuge	20% non-corn borer B.t. corn	20% non-B.t. corn	20% non-B.t. corn
Configurations	Separate, Block, Perimeter, Split Planter	Block, Split Planter, Adjacent Field	Block, Split Planter, Adjacent Field
	Refuge must be within 1/2 mile (1/4 mile preferred)	Refuge adjacent to or within your field	Refuge adjacent to or within your field
Strips	Split planter, 4 rows (6 preferred)	Split planter, 4 rows	Split planter, 4 rows

For more details regarding refuge requirements, ask your Stine dealer or consult the YieldGard IRM Guide.