Rotation, rotation and more rotation.
That’s the top priority for corn growers grappling with insect pests like corn rootworm in Ontario, according to officials from Bayer Crop Science, makers of the Dekalb corn hybrids.
Speaking to Farmtario at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show 2025 near Woodstock, Annemarie Van Wely noted rotation in all its forms is a key tool for growers.
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The customer service agronomist, based in western Ontario, said growers in a number of regions of the province are struggling with corn rootworm.
“It’s really important to rotate off of corn if you’re having issues,” she said.
Corn rootworm’s lifecycle requires corn residue for the mating process, making longer corn rotations more troublesome.
Farmers should also rotate mode of action to include below-ground protection against corn rootworm, if their production system and conditions warrant it, she said.
As Bt traits begin to show their age and overuse catches up to them, hitting the pests with a different challenge will help contain them.
Phil Nadalin, a Guelph-based agronomist and customer solutions lead with Bayer said the firm’s new VT4 Pro trait, released this season in two new corn hybrids, aims to give growers a leg up on that challenge.
“You’re getting all that above-ground control, as well as the below-ground control,” he said. “It gives them a one-two punch, to control corn rootworm below the ground, and then control western bean cutworm above ground.”
The two hybrids are DCK094-94 and DC100-01.
The former has been a “real rock star” over the past couple years of testing, Nadalin said.
“If you want yield, this hybrid is doing it for you, especially in the northern part of our area — Oxford, Perth, Huron,” he said.
The latter hybrid hits the 100-day window and similarly seems to be an adaptable crop with solid yield, he said.
For more coverage on corn production issues from the outdoor farm show, look to future print editions of Farmtario.
