CropLife Canada, the organization representing Canada’s crop protection and biotech seed companies, is taking steps to ensure farmers are following recommendations for planting a “refuge” of non-insect-resistant corn varieties.
The companies market corn genetically modified to contain bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring bacteria which kill insects such as the corn earworm. With 100 per cent plantings of the varieties, it’s expected that insects resistant to the bacteria would survive and multiply, eventually becoming dominant. Therefore the companies recommend planting of a “refuge” crop of 20 per cent of the field in order to maintain a susceptible insect population.
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However, a recent study that revealed only 61 per cent of farmers growing Bt corn are planting the recommended 20 per cent refuge area.
Earlier this year, Monsanto advised its Bt corn growers that they could expect random field assessments and that any who have not complied will be warned. If they do not comply the following year will lose access to Monsanto Bt varieties.
CropLife says that starting in July, assessors will be visiting producers growing Bt corn hybrids across Ontario and Quebec to determine whether they are planting the recommended refuge areas. The 100 farmers in Ontario and 50 in Quebec who have been selected for an assessment will be notified by mail. Accredited auditors from the Agrichemical Warehousing Standards Association (AWSA) will visit these farms throughout July and August.
Assessors will report back to CropLife Canada and individual companies will conduct follow-up visits with customers not planting the recommended refuges to help ensure the grower grows the appropriate refuge the following year.
“This program is part of our industry’s commitment to proper stewardship of our technologies,” CropLife Canada Lorne Hepworth said in a release. “This year’s pilot is phase one of a corrective action plan to increase refuge plantings in future years.”
