During the past decade, South Dakota State University entomologist Mike Cantangui did research that showed Monsanto's genetically engineered corn may contribute to the spread of cutworms. Three years ago, Monsanto board member and SDSU president David Chicoine saw to it that Dr. Cantangui was fired from SDSU.
What's happened in the last three years? Corn rootworms and pesticide sales have exploded:
In parts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, though, farmers are running into increasing problems with corn rootworms.
"You never really know for sure, until that big rain event with the strong wind, and then the next morning the phone starts ringing [and people ask]: 'What's going on out there?' " says Steiner.
Entire hillsides of corn, with no support from their eaten-away roots, may be blown flat.
Monsanto has downplayed such reports, blaming extraordinary circumstances. But in a half-dozen universities around the Midwest, scientists are now trying to figure out whether, in fact, the Bt genes have lost their power [Dan Charles, "As Biotech Seed Falters, Insecticide Use Surges in Corn Belt," NPR: The Salt, 2013.07.09].
Charles says some pesticide makers report sales of their chemicals are up 50 to 100 percent in the last couple years.
Charles makes a point similar to one Dr. Newquist highlighted a couple years ago: the push for ethanol is driving more corn planting and supplanting the sensible crop rotation that could keep Frankenbugs from taking root.
Perhaps we can all find out a cheaper way to fight rootworms by attending the Organic Row Crops open house at MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year Charlie Johnson's place on July 25. How's your corn looking, Charlie?
This is why I'm so against federally subsidized crop insurance. If farmers are getting sold bad product and farmers are advocating for these GM crops they shouldn't get reimbursed for bad product and decisions. I'm in favor of evolution in farming where really bad decisions leave people accountable.
If farmers were getting massive crop insurance they wouldn't be nearly as vocal when their beloved monsanto screws them over.
curious charlie's market for that corn.
Interesting to see so much corn down along the edges of fields this year around Lake County, we haven't had a big wind event of recent to have caused that sort of damage, and yes, of course Catangui was right, he's knows his stuff.
Cory and others, The corn looks great!! Madville Times is invited to do a "remote" and attend the organic farm tour. Most of our corn goes as organic feed for poultry and/or dairy rations. We did have some corn just recently that went to an ethanol plant to be made into organic vodka. NForganics represents all grain sales from Johnson Farms!
Ah, now this is one answer to my problem. Since the first time I started buying corn seed with the rootworm trait. everycrop year since, my corn has tipped over to various degrees to dictate harvest. When asking my crop consultant, he says what Monsanto breeds in, you lose someother trait. Paying more for seed HAS not solved my problem. (triple stack varieties).... Which brings up the question which no one has an answer for me, Why is David Chicoine drawing a wage for being the SDSU president and on a Monsanto board drawing a wage! SDSU is a land grant college. Monsanto is a private company which is trying to control all seed. I see this a conflict of interest. Monsanto is using SDSU students to do research which saves them(Monsanto) money? Monsanto gave money to build the new seed lab and put Mr. Chicoine on a Monsanto board. I read this in the news paper awhile back.. so I'm paying twice, my tax dollars used to fund a land grant college and then have to pay for a high priced product that isn't working! In my opinion, talk about a monoply and wasn't SDSU designed to promote and find new seed varieties for public use? Now Monsanto is influencing this research, for their own benefit? I wish someone to explain this to me, as when i ask this question, i get, Idon't know......
If Monsanto or another Monsanto doesn't own the seed, it appears to me publicly funded universities do. Tell me I'm wrong!
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A farmer friend told me the other day that he thinks there are only a couple unprotected varieties of wheat left.
Cory: First of all cutworms and rootworms are two different animals.
Second the hybrids these day are fast growing. The old saying used to be "knee high by the Fourth of July" but now it is waist to shoulder by. Growing that fast can cause some of the problems that you are pointing out.
Third, pesticide use may be up but is it all being used on corn? Over that last 10 years on my farm the amount of insecticide used on my beans is at least 10 to 20 times what I used on my corn and as of now there is not a "gene" variety of protection for beans.