News Insect Control Technology from Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences is bringing new insect control technology to Indiana farmers, technology that South American producers have been using for years. PowerCore is insect control technology from Dow AgroSciences that has been in use in South America for years and is now available to U.S. growers. Brian Barker, U.S. Seeds General Manager says this new trait that controls above ground pests will compliment the Smart Stax technology, “There has been a growing demand in the Midwest by growers who need just above ground insect protection. We had had such great success with this product in South America, we had to bring it north to the U.S.”
PowerCore incorporates a pyramid of three different Bt proteins and uses three modes of action to control more insects than other above-ground trait technologies. In addition, the three different modes of action offered by these proteins reduce potential insect resistance to the technology. Barker told HAT this product has a long history of effective control, ”I have seen firsthand in side by side fields how good this insect control is.” PowerCore protects corn against damage from European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, corn earworm, western bean cutworm, black cutworm, fall armyworm, and sugarcane borer. It offers excellent control of above-ground worm pests for growers with moderate to low rootworm pressure. He added that a three-protein Bt trait technology offers growers better protection against lepidopteran pests and more effective resistance management. Furthermore, this combination of traits to control insects can help growers manage their crops more effectively and protect valuable yield potential.
PowerCore will be available in a refuge in a bag. Mycogen Seeds, Brodbeck Seeds, Dairyland Seed, Pfister Seeds and Prairie Brand Seed will offer PowerCore trait technology in new, high-yielding genetics within their corn portfolios beginning in 2016.