C. Richard Edwards

The Economics of Bt Corn: Valuing Protection from the European Corn Borer

Corn that carries a gene from the natural soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, or Bt, has given farmers a potentially powerful tool to protect against European corn borer (ECB) damage. European corn borers are responsible for losses of

An economic analysis of non-Bt corn refuges

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Behavioral and Feeding Assays Reveal a Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Variant That Is Attracted to Soybean

2 billion per year in the United States. This study analyzed the economic value of Bt corn under Indiana conditions. Results suggest that the value of the protection offered by Bt corn is generally lower than the current seed premiums in Indiana. The economic value of Bt corn may exceed the current premiums for farmers with higher-than-average yields or who have a 40% or greater probability of an ECB infestation.

A laboratory study to evaluate the toxicity of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, bait, Success 0.02 CB, to the honey bee, Apis mellifera

Abstract Planting Bt transgenic corn in large areas of the environment may lead to European corn borer (ECB) [ Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner)] resistance to Bt toxins. Scientists recommend planting a non-Bt corn refuge of at least 20% of total corn area in close proximity to Bt corn as part of an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategy. A partial budget analysis was used to estimate the costs of implementing alternative refuge configurations in the US Corn Belt. A strip configuration is the least cost method of planting a 20% non-Bt corn refuge. A block-U refuge combination is only slightly more costly.The costs are small regardless of configuration choice and it is likely that other considerations, such as potential GMO segregation requirements, will dictate choice of configuration.