Corn Rootworm Management

Corn rootworm (CRW) is the primary pest of corn in the major corn-growing areas of North America, causing more than one billion dollars in damage annually in control costs and yield reductions. Pioneer® brand Optimum® AcreMax® 1 (AM1), Optimum® AcreMax® Xtra (AMX) and Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme (AMXT) insect protection products with integrated refuge allow growers to reduce refuge requirements with a single product. These products deliver flexibility and convenience for insect refuge management by providing one mode of action for corn rootworm protection (Herculex® RW trait) in AM1 and AMX products and two modes of action for corn rootworm protection (Herculex® RW and Agrisure® RW traits) in AMXT products. Replicated trials were conducted at 12 locations in 2012 and at 9 locations in 2013. Eight hybrid platforms were evaluated in each year of testing, and trial locations extended from central Nebraska to central Indiana each year.