Trait Talk Live Forums:

The Trait Talk Live Forums were designed to give growers an opportunity to meet face-to-face with industry experts, extension and the media to discuss biotech challenges, natural refuge, and weed and insect resistance management.

Trait Talk: Memphis, TN

"Two Genes Are Better Than One"

The message to cotton growers from the first Trait Talk Live Forum in Memphis was clear: duel-gene traits offer better resistance management than their single-gene counterparts. "When you have two genes working on the insect at the same time, it's highly unlikely an individual is going to contain resistance to both traits," says Walt Mullins, trait technology lead for Monsanto.

Growers and consultants from Tennessee and Arkansas gathered in Memphis in January for the first Trait Talk Live Forum. The panel discussion, led by industry experts Don Parker, National Cotton Council; Bob Hayes, University of Tennessee; Bill Robinson, National Cotton Council; Walt Mullins, Monsanto; and Bob Montgomery of Delta and Pine Land discussed trait technology and planning for 2008, including preparation for duel-gene traits.

Trait Talk: Greenville, NC

Research Recommendation Challenges

Dr. Alan York, professor of crop science and extension specialist, and Dr. Keith Edmisten, professor and Extension cotton specialist, both at North Carolina State University, were the keynote speakers at the Greenville event. Edmisten noted that it can be difficult for growers to follow research recommendations because of the real challenges of weather and size of operation. This has made the availability of Roundup Ready Flex a real plus.

"Some of the work we do at the research station on Roundup Ready is often difficult on a farm - for example, spraying within a specific time window can be difficult. Flex, with its wider window, does make it easier. However, growers need to be careful to not overuse that window."

Trait Talk: Jackson, MS

Growers: "Start Testing Bollgard II Now"

Speaking at the Jackson event in February Dr. Sandy Stewart of Louisiana State University shared some of the challenges of finding the best varieties of Bollgard II to recommend once original Bollgard comes off the market in 2010. "Eighty-five percent of the cotton grown in Louisiana was to four varieties," he said. "this past year, we tested 73 varieties in test plots, and it's a challenge when you know that 69 of them won't ever be planted on cotton farms. It's a monumental challenge." He advised growers to start testing Bollgard II on their own farms this season.

Walt Mullins, Monsanto; Dr. Jeff Gore, Mississippi State University; Dr. Sandy Stewart, Louisiana State University; and Dr. Trey Koger, Mississippi Extension all presented to Mississippi growers at the Jackson event on current and future trait technology, strategies for making the most of existing traits, and ways to prepare for the generations of trait technology to come.

Trait Talk: Lubbock, TX

Message to Growers: "Don't Take Traits for Granted"

West Texas has not become a hotbed of weed resistance to date, so the main point to growers at the Trait Talk Live Forum in Lubbock was this: don't take trait technology for granted.

Producers in West Texas, in particular with the Roundup Ready technology, have done a good job of diversifying practices to avoid resistance issues, notes Dr. Wayne Keeling, weed scientist at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. "They are continuing to use residuals with different modes of action, they have continued to cultivate in summer. The concern is, as we go to more Flex varieties, the temptation will be too great for them (to cut corners). They need to be aware that if they want to keep technology viable, they have to keep doing what they've been doing."

Walt Mullins, trait manager for Monsanto, noted that the industry will need to work closely with Extension and growers as trait and variety turnover happens more rapidly. "Monsanto is talking about this more than ever in anticipation of new traits and variety characteristics we hope to introduce in the near future," says Mullins.