Optimum® AcreMaxTM1 Insect Protection 

Active Ingredients of Component 1 (Herculex∗

 XTRA): 90% of maize kernels

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1F protein and the genetic material (PHI8999) 

necessary for its production in corn event DAS-Ø15Ø7-1 .......................................................... <0.00174* 

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry34Ab1 protein and the genetic material (PHP17662) 

necessary for its production in corn event DAS-59122-7 ........................................................... <0.01684*

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry35Ab1 protein and the genetic material (PHP17662) 

necessary for its production in corn event DAS-59122-7 ........................................................... <0.00676*

Inert Ingredient:

Phosphinothricin acetyltransferase produced by the pat gene and the genetic 

material necessary for its production in corn ........................................................................... <0.00151%* 

Active Ingredient of Component 2 (Herculex*

 I): 10% of maize kernels

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1F protein and the genetic material (PHI8999) 

necessary for its production in corn event DAS-Ø15Ø7-1 ......................................................... <0.0123%* 

Inert Ingredient:

Phosphinothricin acetyltransferase produced by the pat gene and the genetic 

material necessary for its production in corn ............................................................................. <0.0020%* 

* % total protein on a dry wt. basis as expressed in whole plant tissue 

CAUTION 

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN 

NET CONTENTS ________________ 

EPA REGISTRATION NUMBER: 29964-A 

EPA ESTABLISHMENT NUMBER: 029964-IA-001 

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. 

7300 NW 62 Avenue 

Johnston, IA 50131 

 

∗

 Herculex Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ® Herculex is a registered 

trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. 

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DIRECTIONS FOR USE 

It is a violation of federal law to use this product in any manner inconsistent with its labeling. Information 

regarding commercial production reflected here and in the terms and conditions of this registration must 

be included in the Product Use Guide. 

Optimum® AcreMaxTM1 Insect Protection combines the insect protection features of Herculex∗

 XTRA and 

Herculex* I in a single seed bag. Optimum AcreMax 1 protects corn crops from leaf, stalk and ear 

damage caused by corn borers and root damage caused by corn rootworm larvae. In order to minimize 

the risk of corn pests developing resistance to Optimum AcreMax 1 corn, an insect resistance 

management plan must be implemented. 

Optimum AcreMax 1 contains a “built-in” 10% corn rootworm refuge by virtue of the blended refuge seed 

in the bag. No further corn rootworm refuge is required to minimize the risk of corn rootworm developing 

resistance. 

The use of Optimum AcreMax 1 corn does require an accompanying lepidopteran refuge. Grower 

agreements (also known as stewardship agreements) will specify that growers must adhere to the 

following refuge requirements as described in the grower guide/product use guide and/or in supplements 

to the grower guide/product use guide. 

Corn-Belt/Non-Cotton Growing Areas 

For Cry1F field corn grown outside cotton-growing areas (e.g., the Corn Belt), growers must adhere to the 

following refuge requirements: 

• Growers must plant a structured refuge of at least 20% non-Bt corn and/or non-lepidopteran resistant 

Bt corn which may be treated with insecticides as needed to control lepidopteran stalk-boring and 

other pests. 

• Refuge planting options include: separate fields, blocks within fields (e.g., along the edges or 

headlands), and strips across the field. 

• External refuges must be planted within 1/2 mile. 

• When planting the refuge in strips across the field, refuges must be at least 4 rows wide. 

• Insecticide treatments for control of European corn borer, corn earworm, southwestern corn borer, fall 

armyworm, black cutworm, western bean cutworm, lesser corn stalk borer, southern corn stalk borer, 

and sugarcane borer may be applied only if economic thresholds are reached for one or more of 

these target pests. Economic thresholds will be determined using methods recommended by local or 

regional professionals (e.g., Extension Service agents, crop consultants). Microbial Bt insecticides 

must not be applied to non-Bt corn and/or non-lepidopteran resistant Bt corn refuges. 

Cotton-Growing Area Refuge Requirements for Bt Corn 

For Bt field corn grown in cotton-growing areas: 

• Growers must plant a structured refuge of 50% non-Bt corn and/or non-lepidopteran resistant Bt corn 

that may be treated with insecticides as needed to control lepidopteran stalk-boring and other pests. 

• Refuge planting options include: separate fields, blocks within fields (e.g., along the edges or 

headlands), and strips across the field. 

• External refuges must be planted within 1/2 mile. 

• When planting the refuge in strips across the field, refuges must be at least 4 rows wide. 

• Insecticide treatments for control of European corn borer, corn earworm, southwestern corn borer, fall 

armyworm, black cutworm, western bean cutworm, lesser corn stalk borer, southern corn stalk borer, 

and sugarcane borer may be applied only if economic thresholds are reached for one or more of 

these target pests. Economic thresholds will be determined using methods recommended by local or 

 

∗

 Herculex Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ® Herculex is a registered 

trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. 

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regional professionals (e.g., Extension Service agents, crop consultants). Microbial Bt insecticides 

must not be applied to non-Bt corn and/or non-lepidopteran resistant Bt corn refuges. 

• Cotton-growing areas include the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, 

North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, Oklahoma (only the counties of Beckham, Caddo, 

Comanche, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kay, Kiowa, Tillman, Washita), Tennessee (only the 

counties of Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, 

Lake, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Madison, Obion, Rutherford, Shelby, and Tipton), Texas (except the 

counties of Carson, Dallam, Hansford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Roberts, and 

Sherman), Virginia (only the counties of Dinwiddie, Franklin City, Greensville, Isle of Wight, 

Northampton, Southampton, Suffolk City, Surrey, Sussex) and Missouri (only the counties of Dunkin, 

New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard). 

Use Pattern 

Crop Pests 

Field corn black cutworm 

corn earworm 

European corn borer 

fall armyworm 

lesser corn stalk borer 

southern corn stalk borer 

southwestern corn borer 

sugarcane borer 

western bean cutworm 

western corn rootworm 

northern corn rootworm 

Mexican corn rootworm 

Herculex∗

 Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred offers unique genetic 

characteristics for specific grower needs and may be protected by one or more of the following U.S. 

patents: 5,484,956; 5,489,520; 5,510,474; 5,550,318; 5,919,675; 6,020,190; 6,218,188; 6,258,999; 

6,573,240; 6,737,273; 6,943,282; 6,083,499; 6,127,180; 6,340,593; 6,548,291; 6,624,145; and 6,893,872. 

 

∗ Herculex Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ®

 Herculex is a registered 

trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

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