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Paul Callaghan
Monsanto Company
U.S. Cotton Traits Marketing Manager
Two second generation traits helping growers reach high performance on their operations
Second generation traits are helping provide flexibility for growers in the South.
Reflecting back on 2007, Monsanto had two specific traits that growers utilized on their farm. Paul Callaghan, US Cotton Traits Marketing Manager, says Bollgard II (an insecticide tolerant trait) and Roundup Ready Flex (a herbicide tolerance trait) delivered high performance for growers in the South last year.
He says both traits provided growers with convenience, flexibility and time
savings – three things growers continuously say they want on their farm.
“What growers really liked, in my opinion, with Roundup Ready Flex, was the wider window of application. And that wider window of application allows them to do several things. One, it allows them to spray broadcast over the top. They can do that versus a selective application with a hooded sprayer, which is a lethargic process that does take quite a bit of time to do, versus going through a field with a 90 foot boom at a much faster rate.”
He says most of the time savings with this trait came from the lag and the reduced needs for hoods.
Callaghan says Bollgard II minimized the need for insect spraying for worms
in the U.S., particularly bollworms. He says this is also a trait that’s
versatile, performing well in all areas.
“Across the Cotton Belt, I would probably say the Bollworm pressure this year would probably be categorized light to moderate. But there are areas at the U.S. that experienced extremely high pressure – the hot spots. And the Bollgard II performed extremely well in the light, the moderate and very heavy pressure areas.”
Callaghan points out some spraying was needed in areas that had the Bollgard II trait, but it was kept to a minimum.
He says both Bollgard II and Roundup Ready Flex help cotton plants achieve its maximum potential, providing a beneficial option for Southern growers.
