The lastest Talking News Release from Monsanto focuses on the extremely dry conditions we’ve been having in the midwest. Let’s hope we get some rain!

Midwest Drought Conditions Boost Corn Insect Pressure

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (August 2, 2005) – The dangerously dry conditions across much of the Midwestern Corn Belt this summer are taking their toll on what was expected to be a record crop causing development problems as well as increased insect pressure.
Monsanto Corn Technical Manager Dr. Rob Ihrig (EYE-rig) says corn is in the middle of its most critical development period right now.
“Corn is a tremendous utilizer of water and the crop really becomes stressed later in the season as it attempts to fill the ear so the water demand is much, much higher. The challenge that this crop is under is that there’s no water for it to really remain healthy and there’s very little water available to produce the sugars and photosynthate necessary to fill the ear.” ( monsanto-ihrig-cut1) (:26) (Full Release)

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