Resistance Happens

Resistance to pests in the cotton fields does happen, but Dr. Walt Mullins with Monsanto said the key to coping with resistance is prediction. Mullins gave a presentation on the industry’s role in insect and weed resistance for cotton yesterday afternoon, and I had the opportunity to listen in on the discussion.

Most of my past posts have focused on cotton producers and the new tools available to them, but I think it is important to highlight some of the things researchers are working on to help farmers cope with some of the pest problems they face. Sometimes the communication – not only in dealing with resistance issues – can get a little technical. That communication channel between industry leaders and growers must be open both ways to help combat pests in the fields.

Mullins explained that the number one cause of pest resistance is USE, and repeated use of a dose of a product will continue to cause resistance problems if 100% of the target pest population is not killed on the first application. He said producers can help themselves most by detecting any types of resistance problems early and communicating those problems with their seed sales representatives.

The industry has the obligation to fix those problems for the farmer – a trying task for sure, but one that industry leaders must be prepared to deal with. Mullins outlined these obligations for the industry:

• Provide management solutions and training the pest resistance to growers.
  
• Maintain a leadership position in research on products.


• Discover and provide new options for more effective pest control.


• Develop and communicate reasonable pre-emptive and reactive resistance management.


• Commit to follow up with growers on their pest management issues.


• Remain transparent in pest resistance work.

This is a fitting topic for this year’s cotton conferences as farmers learn more about Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex cotton. Monsanto has reported that about 5 million acres of the stacked-trait cotton was planted in 2008, and it expects about 5.6 million of the 8.6 million U.S. cotton acres will be planted with Bollgard II with Roundup Ready Flex in 2009.

Farmers are finding out about the results of the 2008 crop at the conferences this week. Monsanto has reported that Bollgard II stood up to some heavy worm pressure across the Cotton Belt in 2008, especially in parts of southern Arkansas and in the southern part of South Carolina. That pressure was brought on by tobacco budworms, cotton bollworms and fall armyworms, depending on the area.

In a Monsanto press release, Mullins said the Bollgard II technology clearly showed superior worm control compared with other types of Bt cotton, including the original Bollgard.

Mullins also noted that Bollgard II, for the most part, did not have to be sprayed with insecticide for worm control across the Cotton Belt in 2008.

To find out more about Bollgard II, click here.