Bt corn

Bt corn contains the genes from a common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, which cause plants to produce insecticidal proteins as they grow.   Bt corns are commercially available that produce toxin(s) which make them resistant to caterpillar pests.  Bt corn is most effective and valuable for the control of southwestern and European corn borer, but it also suppresses damage caused by other caterpillar pests (e.g., corn earworm and fall armyworm).  In areas where cotton is also grown, only 50% of acreage on any farm can be planted to Bt corn.  This restriction is part of a refuge requirement to manage resistance.  Additional information about refuge requirements are available at:  http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto/ag_products/stewardship/irm.asp

Bt  Corn that expresses a toxin for control of rootworms has recently become commercially available.  These corns help to reduce yield loss resulting from infestations of northern, western and southern corn rootworms.  Rootworm infestations in Tennessee are often sporadic, and there is limited data about the economic benefits of using rootworm resistant corn in Tennessee.