Meristem has officially launched Guard X – an EPA-approved bioinsecticide that protects against corn rootworm.
“This is a fully integrated planter box system to provide a new mode of action for farmers to overcome corn rootworm resistance, guard those roots, and do it in a convenient, cost-effective way,” says Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO. “We’ll get this on 200,000 acres this spring and that’s going to save those farmers about $2 million. It’s another step in bringing real productivity to American farmers and helping them raise more bushels at a lower per unit cost of production.”
Guard X uses naturally occurring pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) to trigger the crop’s genes to produce natural defense root exudates that cause the pest to retreat. If it does cause damage to the plant, biological activity can also aid in root regrowth.
“I’ve spent years and years working with products to control corn rootworm,” Eviston says. “With Guard X, we’ve got a naturally occurring treatment we can deliver to the furrow that repels the larvae from the root zone, without any downside pesticide risk. We are the only ones able to deliver truly effective biocontrol because our patented Bio-Capsule seed fluency delivery system protects these beneficial microbes right up to their point of impact.”
According to Meristem, this product will help combat the increase of corn rootworm resistance and insect pressure that has occurred in recent years.
“Resistance is getting worse every year. First, they (CRW) became resistant to the single trait, then to stacked traits, and now farmers are using that new RNAi trait technology, but it’s expensive and still may not be enough,” says Shane Brockhoff, regional director for Meristem based in Iowa.
Brockhoff adds the product will provide an alternative for growers looking for options outside of traditional insecticide chemicals used on a planter.
“Farmers need a way to fight back against resistant rootworms, but they don’t want to go back to having in-furrow insecticide kits on their planters,” Brockhoff says. “Guard X provides a new mode of action for less than $14 per acre that provides what they need to help protect their corn from corn rootworm damage.”
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