She presented an overview of EPA s regulation of insect resistance management for Bt crops. Dr. Harold Coble, USDA s IPM Coordinator, presented an overview of USDA s proposal for the development of twelve Regional Pest Management Centers and their role in the development of regional pest management plans. The body of the workshop consisted of four stakeholder panels with eight to ten participants representing industry, federal and state government, academia, crop consultants, growers, grower organization, and environmental groups. This was supported by academia, industry, and growers. However, the efficacy of a sprayed refuge is still uncertain.
More research is needed.
Different regional refuge strategies are needed, e.g. the heavily treated areas in which southwestern corn borer is the primary pest. An IRM plan should be scientifically sound, but also practical, and easily implementable. In some cases, Bt corn use is not warranted because borer pressure is normally low. To organic farmers, Bt foliar sprays are irreplaceable. All panelists agreed that good grower education was essential to the success of any IRM strategy.