Tag Archives: Genuity SmartStax Corn

“Refuge Made Simple” by Latham

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For years, the word “refuge” could bring on an unwelcome headache to corn growers. Determining how many units of a refuge hybrid were needed and in which configuration to plant them was confusing. Now Latham’s Refuge in a Bag (RIB) is making the complex world of refuge simple.

The RIB concept involves mixing refuge seed with both the corn borer and rootworm insect protected corn seed, so growers have everything they need to be refuge compliant in just one bag. Growers are no longer required to weigh adjacent versus in-field configurations; they can simply open the bag and pour.

At Latham Hi-Tech Seeds, growers will be able to purchase the first single-bag RIB solution for the 2012 season: Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ Corn, a blend of 95% traited seed and 5% refuge seed. When growers begin looking to plant RIB products, it’s important to remember that yield comes first. Growers shouldn’t have to plant a product that may have yield drag in order to receive all of the other great benefits that come with RIB. We’ve found 5% products provide the simplicity wanted without sacrificing yield. Be aware, however, not all RIB products are created equal.

Whether you’re making decisions on traits and genetics or weighing RIB products, the focus should remain on what will always be most important. Genetics make yield; traits protect yield.
At the end of the day, the product needs to be the right fit for a grower’s farm.

For more tips on selecting the right seed for your situation, visit www.thefieldposition.com.

Coming Soon … Refuge-in-the-Bag Products

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Latham® customers today are getting a first-hand look at new hybrid seed corn and soybean traits during field stops on the 2nd annual Latham Freedom of Independence Ride. One such stop is a Genuity® Technology Showcase, featuring Genuity® SmartStaxTM and Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield® Soybeans.

Genuity Technology Showcases are an important step to helping evaluate useful product concepts like Genuity Smart Stax, which will be a principal component for Refuge in the Bag (RIB). Pending regulatory approval, the single-bag RIB concept for Genuity SmartStax corn and Genuity VT Double PROTM corn will put the required refuge for Insect Resistance Management (IRM) into the same bag as the fully traited corn. Once approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 5% RIB option will provide an IRM strategy for above-and below-ground insect management that is delivered to the field. 

The Genuity SmartStax RIB product concept uses the same multiple modes of action for broad-spectrum insect control as Genuity SmartStax, which was launched this season and reduces structured refuge from 20% to 5% in the Corn Belt. Genuity SmartStax is the only hybrid seed corn product that is currently approved for a 5% refuge; it has the lowest required refuge in the Corn Belt. 

NOTE: Pioneer’s Optimum® AcreMax TM 1 is not a true single-bag solution for RIB. The 10% in-the-bag corn rootworm refuge carries a separate 20% above-ground refuge requirement for Optimum AcreMax. For more clarity regarding refuge requirements, listen to this audio clip: Genuity SmartStax Corn.