Corn Growers Urged to Plant Non-Bt `Refuges'

October 28, 1999

The National Corn Growers Association is urging its members to plant non-BT "refuges" if they plant Bt corn. Planting a refuge is a requirement when Bt seed is purchased, says NCGA.

Planting part of a farmer's corn acreage to non-Bt hybrids is considered to be the single most important step growers can take to prevent insects from developing resistance to corn that has been genetically enhanced to protect itself against European corn borer and certain other corn pests, says NCGA.

Refuges provide a population of susceptible insects to mate with any rare resistant insects that might survive exposure to Bt corn. Bt corn contains a protein from the soil organism bacillus thuringiensis. "We want everyone to know that planting a refuge is a requirement when you purchase Bt seed," says NCGA President Lynn Jensen. "We can avoid more government regulation by exercising good stewardship on our own. If we don't use the technology responsibly, we could lose the benefits of Bt protection."