By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

MINNETONKA, Minn. — A new product designed by Syngenta Seeds Inc. to tackle a variety of pests in corn could have a wider impact on the industry, said Chris Cook, the company’s vice president of field agronomy.

“This is a game-changer for growers in the U.S.,” Cook explained. “This could help U.S. corn growers recoup an estimated 238 million bushels of corn and $1.1 billion in annual yield and grain quality losses due to multi-pest complex damage. That’s the big picture impact.”

The company’s Agrisure Viptera (Vip3A) trait was deregulated last month by the USDA. When combined with the Agrisure 3000GT trait stack, it forms the Agrisure Viptera 3111 trait stack, which has shown in tests to be effective against 14 insects, including the corn earworm, stalk borer and fall armyworm, Cook said.

Currently, every insect trait for corn uses a crystalline protein that focuses on one area of an insect’s gut, he explained.

Vip3A is a non-crystalline protein that impacts another area of the gut, which gives the grower two ways to kill the insects with one product, he said.

The two-pronged approach will be beneficial if insects happen to become resistant to the old method, he added.

“U.S. agriculture benefits when growers have access to a broad array of trait choices,” David Morgan, president of Syngenta Seeds, said in a statement. “With the Agrisure Viptera trait, Syngenta is offering growers a totally new choice for insect control in a breakthrough product.”

The USDA’s approval was the last hurdle for Vip3A, which will be available to farmers in corn hybrids beginning in 2011. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had previously given its approval, Cook said.

It’s been about four years since Syngenta officials decided the product was ready to offer to growers, he noted.

“It’s like December 24th and you’re six years old,” Cook explained. “There’s a high level of anticipation and excitement.”

This summer, Syngenta will have 58 trials across the country to give growers an opportunity to see in person if the new trait will work for them, he said. An online tool is also available to help farmers evaluate the product.

“It helps them look at expected yield and loss,” Cook said. “It helps them decide if the trait will work best for them. They can decide if the trait will pay for itself or not.”

For more information on the locations of the Agrisure Viptera 3111 trials, contact a local NK, Garst or Golden Harvest dealer.