More than 90 percent of Illinois corn producers polled at the University of
Illinois Extension Corn and Soybean Classic meetings indicated that they
planned to plant corn that was genetically modified with the insect-killing
protein Bacillus thuringiensis this spring.
While we are discussing the plans, don't forget the other elephant in the
room. The GMO, which are also intended to reduce Chems used.
As a group Ag in general is and has been trying to produce more with less
inputs. Seed coatings and GMO's are the newest tools. And still
Environmentalist are not happy. GMOS are required to plant refuge acres
for those pest to survive in, with the goal of not building resistance.
Seems many ignore that requirement. I am seeing the seed co. responding by
mixing refuge seeds in the bag.
As to spraying when you see damage. Generally that's to late, corn
rootworms are a good example. You don't see the damage until its to late.
Or earworms, By the time they develop you have about a 2 day window to
spray, and the corn is generally 6-7 feet high then, so spraying is tough
and hard to accomplish. Add to that a little rain and you loose a lot of
crop. Tends to be a problem to "wait and see" often times you may have a
section of a field severely infected, and not see signs anywhere else.
Typical farm size around here is around 1200 acres. Hard and impractical to
inspect all of it on any sort of regular basis. So we spot check, sometimes
that doesn't work out.
Jims 100% right lots of speculation from Non producers is part of the issue.
When you boil it down, dang few acres and people are feeding the world.
For example the land mass of the USA is roughly 2,379,400,320 acres. Of
which roughly 97 million is corn, another 85 million beans. Add in another
100 or so for rice and cotton. And lets say 50 for other stuff. Ah heck,
round it off to 379 million acres. Farmed. That's around 15% of the land
mass. Rough numbers, But you get the point. That leaves 85% of the
country for the birds, bees and other critters.
Charlie
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