Reducing Bt trait acres in 2020 Minnesota corn production? Implications for European corn borer

 

The economics of 2019-2020 corn production has challenged many farmers to minimize production costs. Hybrid selection is one way to reduce costs. Planting corn hybrids without Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins for protection against European corn borer (ECB), corn rootworm, or both will reduce seed costs. However, if not careful, farmers could inadvertently reduce crop revenues if they select hybrids without considering yield potential or insect populations in their fields.

 

Yield potential is the first thing to consider when selecting a corn hybrid. Bt traits protect the yield potential of a hybrid, but yield benefits only occur when targeted insects are above economic levels. When insect pressure is low or absent, economic benefit with trait-protected hybrids only occurs if higher costs are offset by greater yields. Switching to less-expensive non-Bt seed can be a good strategy when yields are comparable or when seed cost savings exceed any reduced yield potential plus prospective insect losses. In many 2019 fields, planting corn without a Bt trait can work well, if you recognize and account for your insect risk.

 

 

Since the adoption of Bt corn 24 years ago, Bt use rates in Minnesota have grown to as high as 85% of the total acres planted in 2017. During 2019, Bt hybrids declined to 82% of Minnesota corn acres (Figure 1). ECB populations in Minnesota and throughout most of the Midwest Corn Belt have been effectively suppressed by similar adoption rates of Bt. ECB populations continue to be low in Minnesota where Bt use has remained relatively high since 2007. Low ECB moth flights (Figure 2) parallel the low ECB larval populations detected in the fall surveys (Figures 3-6). Historically low ECB populations have also been documented in Wisconsin, where Bt adoption rates remain high as well (Figure 1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

During 2017-19, the MN Corn Research and Promotion Council provided funding to increase the number of fields surveyed for overwintering larvae (Figure 3) and ECB damage (Figure 4). As part of the project, several farmer cooperators volunteered non-Bt field locations for the fall surveys. Importantly, this cooperation allowed us to sample fields that we knew in advance did not have above-ground Bt traits (Figure 5, 6). These unprotected fields greatly contributed to our understanding of the current spatial pattern of ECB in the state, revealing where ECB have a foothold in the state, and/or where ECB populations could begin to “rebound” in the next few years.

 

During 2019, 248 commercial fields were evaluated, and thanks to farmers and other ag professional cooperators, this sample included 96 known non-Bt fields. The 2019 ECB infestation levels observed were similar to 2017-2018 (Table 1, Figure 5) and remain at historically low levels. For example, in the 96 non-Bt fields, we did observe a higher average of 0.0865 larvae/plant, whereas the randomly sampled fields (152) yielded only 0.0039/plant. These data compare to the state average overwintering larval number in random samples of 0.0080/plant in 2018, 0.0054/plant in 2017, and 0.016/plant in 2016. The average ECB population density in known non-Bt fields was 0.0386/plant in 2018 and 0.0288/plant in 2017. While higher than the density in fields at random, the average density in non-Bt fields remains much lower than the traditional economic thresholds levels for ECB (typically greater than 0.5 larvae/plant). It is important to remember that these numbers are state averages and the maps represent interpolated spatial data and do not reflect the densities within an individual field. In other words, they do not replace scouting for field-specific decisions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 6. Relative location of fields sampled in 2019 for ECB (left) and those cooperator fields where Bt protection from corn borer was known to be absent (right).

Legend: White - no damage, Yellow – tunnels only (no larvae), Red – tunnels with larvae. (E.C. Burkness, W.D. Hutchison, & B.D. Potter).

 

 

 

 

From an area-wide and long-term resistance management view, it is prudent to maintain susceptible ECB in the state, which the non-Bt, “refuge” fields could produce. Any moths that emerge from non-Bt fields should theoretically have experienced less Bt selection pressure and ideally will most likely mate with the rarer resistant moths that survive from Bt fields. Such matings are therefore designed to assist in keeping the frequency of resistance genes low, and functionally recessive. The subsequent ideal outcome is that susceptible genes dominate over time and help conserve the Bt technology as long as possible. For ECB, this continues to be one of the ongoing success stories with Bt traits.

 

The risk of ECB developing resistance to Bt is not zero, however, and some continued monitoring of populations in Bt has value. For example, Bt resistance has appeared in ECB (this ECB biotype does not occur in Minnesota) in Nova Scotia, Canada, arising from intensive use of one Bt trait. In the case of “refuge-in-a-bag” fields, pollen shed between the Bt and refuge plants can lead to a mosaic of Bt expression in pollen and kernels, potentially reducing refuge efficacy. The effectiveness of the trait and insect biology makes this mosaic in kernel Bt expression a concern for ECB, and other Lepidopteran pests such as fall armyworm (FAW) and corn earworm (CEW); there are several cases of Bt resistance with FAW and CEW globally on multiple crops.

 

 

Going into 2020 summer, ECB populations will remain generally low. However, scattered reports of damage to non-Bt corn demonstrate ECBs are still present and thus always pose a potential threat in Minnesota. That said, a temporary increase in acres planted to non-Bt corn should not dramatically increase the risk of economic damage from ECB in the near-term, particularly if the non-Bt fields are surrounded by several Bt fields. However, this risk likely increases as the proportion of local fields planted to non-Bt increases, particularly where the local shift away from Bt dominates the locale for several years and where non-Bt corn is planted in large contiguous blocks. Most likely the higher fall ECB populations observed in some fields reflects local non-Bt dominance most often found in parts of SE, EC, C, WC and NW Minnesota (Figure 4). As growers choose to plant less Bt corn, these populations should be expected to increase.

 

Another variable to consider is that two biotypes of ECB continue to be present in Minnesota. A univoltine biotype that produces a single generation each year was the first type introduced into the U.S and historically predominated in the northern and central corn growing areas of the state. Multivoltine biotype moths emerge earlier in the growing season. In southern MN, they are capable of producing two, or rarely three, larval generations depending on temperature accumulation and photoperiod cues. Both strains overwinter as 4th or 5th instar larvae, pupate in the spring and moths begin emerging in mid-May or later.

 

 

Risk of yield loss from ECB can be reduced if you scout fields and apply a labeled insecticide where needed. Early and late-planted fields will be most attractive to egg-laying 1st and 2nd generation moths of the multivoltine biotype, respectively. These fields should be scouted for ECB if planted to a hybrid without an above-ground Bt trait. In contrast, it takes the univoltine larvae longer to complete development, so moths of this biotype produce an adult flight in-between the multivoltine 1st and 2nd generation moths. Where the univoltine biotype strain of ECB occurs, scouting should focus on fields from pre-tassel to near pollination when the flight is underway, typically mid-July to early August. In areas with biotype mixtures, mixed infestations can occur with overlapping and prolonged scouting windows.

 

Bt corn should also receive some scouting attention late season to detect potential ECB resistance and attack by other ear-feeding caterpillars. While ECB resistance to Bt has not been detected, several above-ground traits are now less effective against some corn earworm, western bean cutworm and fall armyworm populations. Occasionally, refuge plants may be attacked but look for ECB attack beyond the proportion of refuge plants. In particular, examine leaf feeding from first generation corn borers in earlier planted fields, stalk and ear tunneling in late-silking fields from univoltine and second generation corn borers, ear feeding from corn earworm and western bean cutworm, and late-whorl and ear feeding from fall armyworm. If you do detect an unusually high proportion of injured plants, confirm you planted a hybrid or hybrids with above ground Bt traits and notify your seed dealer. Independent confirmation is important so ask a trusted ag advisor to investigate or confirm your suspicions. Of course, we would appreciate a “heads-up.”

 

 

When moving away from Bt traits to reduce costs, keep in mind three important considerations