Insecticide Use on Corn.

• Author: Benbrook, Charles
• Position: Brief Article

In light of the interest in the effects of Bt-corn on insecticide use and European corn borer (ECB) management, I compiled official USDA data on insecticide use on corn for 1971, 1982, 1991, 1995, 1998. I divided all active ingredients into three "principle target pest" groups-rootworm complex, European corn borer, or rootworm plus (usually first generation) European corn borer. I attributed one-half the acreage treated with products applied for both rootworm and ECB to ECB management. I added the percent acres treated across products.

Results show that:

* About 1 in 6 acres treated were sprayed for ECB in 1971, but by 1998 about 1 in 3 acres treated were sprayed for ECB control.

* Acres treated for ECB rose from 9.5% in 1995 to 10.5% in 1998, despite the planting of some 15 million acres of Bt-corn. As...