Skip to main content

Syngenta US News

Innovative insect control traits deliver strong performance against key corn pests in 2020


The Agrisure® traits portfolio offers multiple solutions to control up to 16 pests

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., USA, Dec. 15, 2020 – Even in an unpredictable year, the innovative Agrisure® traits portfolio delivered strong in-field performance across the Midwest. The portfolio offers numerous proven solutions for growers striving to protect their corn’s genetic yield potential from common pests.

“This year has thrown a lot of challenges at growers. Many witnessed heavy insect pressure from above-ground pests like corn earworm and western bean cutworm, as well as higher populations of below-ground insects like corn rootworm,” said Andy Heggenstaller, head of agronomy for Syngenta Seeds. “When left unchecked, these pests pose a threat to yield potential, which is why in-seed technology like Agrisure insect control traits can be so beneficial.” 

The Agrisure traits portfolio is anchored by the Agrisure Duracade® and Agrisure Viptera® traits for comprehensive above- and below-ground insect control. Syngenta Seeds agronomists spent the 2020 growing season closely tracking performance across the Midwest and found that trait stacks containing the Agrisure Duracade trait excelled in geographies where corn rootworm was a primary concern, while trait stacks containing the Agrisure Viptera trait performed well in areas impacted by above-ground insects like corn earworm and western bean cutworm.

Hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade 5222 E-Z Refuge trait stack Shannon, Illinois 2020
Hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade 5222 E-Z Refuge trait stack
Shannon, Illinois 2020

“That’s what makes the innovative Agrisure traits portfolio different from other options in the market: We offer choice, with multiple products to fit the needs of any farming operation,” said Tim O’Brien, Ph.D., Agrisure traits manager for Syngenta Seeds. “Year after year, we’re helping growers overcome high insect pressure with market-leading control.”

The Agrisure Duracade trait provides a new trait rotational option that delivers a healthier corn crop and combines elite genetics for higher yield potential. Agrisure Duracade trait stacks feature novel, alternate modes of action to help preserve trait durability and delay insect adaptation for long-term field health, yielding up to 4.1 bushels per acre (bu/A) more than non-Agrisure Duracade hybrids in Syngenta Seeds trials.1

The Agrisure Viptera trait controls more above-ground pests than any other trait in the corn industry and is the only trait available that effectively controls western bean cutworm. Hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera trait provide better, more complete control of corn earworm for a 7.3 bu/A advantage, as seen in Syngenta trials.2

Hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera 3220 E-Z Refuge trait stack Pettisville, OH 2020
Hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera 3220 E-Z Refuge trait stack
Pettisville, OH 2020

“Only the Agrisure traits portfolio can offer industry-leading above- and below-ground control by combining the Agrisure Viptera trait with the Agrisure Duracade trait via the Agrisure Duracade 5222 E-Z Refuge® trait stack,” said O’Brien. “This trait stack controls 16 above- and below-ground insects—more than any competitive trait stack—and is the most advanced trait stack on the market to protect the yield potential of corn hybrids while providing the convenience and simplicity of an integrated E-Z Refuge seed blend.”

For growers seeking hybrids that combine the latest insect control traits and water optimization technology, Agrisure trait stacks are available in combination with Agrisure Artesian® technology, as indicated by the letter “A” on the end of the trait stack name. Artesian™ traits combine with elite genetics, allowing plants to manage gaps in rainfall through the season and yield exceptionally well in good conditions, delivering nearly 12% higher yields compared to other hybrids in severe and extreme drought in Syngenta trials.3

Agrisure traits hybrids are available through local Golden Harvest® Seed Advisors, NK® retailers and independent seed companies. 

For more information on Agrisure trait stacks and to find additional resources, visit the newly updated webpages at www.agrisureduracade.com, www.agrisureviptera.com and www.agrisureartesian.com. 

Join the conversation online – connect with Syngenta at Syngenta-us.com/social. 

1Data summarized from 390 Syngenta trials in 2018. 
2 Study results from Syngenta field trials in 33 locations with natural pest pressure, 2007-2009.
3Data is based on 7,613 Syngenta on-farm strip trials across the Corn Belt. 2010-2014 Syngenta defines a yield environment of 50-99 bu/A as severe and fewer than 50 bu/A as extreme.

About Syngenta 
Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agriculture companies. Our ambition is to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. We aim to improve the sustainability, quality and safety of agriculture with world class science and innovative crop solutions. Our technologies enable millions of farmers around the world to make better use of limited agricultural resources. With 28,000 people in more than 90 countries we are working to transform how crops are grown. Through partnerships, collaboration and The Good Growth Plan we are committed to improving farm productivity, rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on X at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Media Contacts:
Lauren Brown
lauren.brown@syngenta.com

Emma Kirkpatrick
919-870-5718
ekirkpatrick@gscommunications.com

Web Resources:
Agrisure Traits
Agrisure Duracade
Agrisure Viptera
Agrisure Artesian
Golden Harvest Seed Advisors
NK Retailers
Know More, Grow More
Syngenta Newsroom
Syngenta Seeds
Syngenta U.S.
Thrive

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

©2020 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road, 16th Floor, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium based herbicides. Agrisure®, Agrisure Artesian®, Artesian™, Agrisure Duracade®, Agrisure Viptera®, E-Z Refuge®, Golden Harvest®, NK® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. HERCULEX® and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. LibertyLink®, Liberty® and the Water Droplet logo are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Agrisure Duracade® is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com.

Latest Syngenta News

Jun 05, 2025
Syngenta repeats as highest corporate donor for Give FFA Day fundraiser
Syngenta has once again secured the top spot as the highest corporate donor during the 2025 Give FFA Day, marking a consecutive year of significant support for National FFA Organization.
May 21, 2025
Syngenta opens state-of-the-art biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina
Syngenta celebrates the grand opening of its new high-capacity biologicals production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Joined by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Syngenta leaders welcomed state officials, industry professionals and local contractors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Apr 16, 2025
Syngenta announces foliar brand names for in-season insect management portfolio in the U.S. Coming Soon: Incipio, Vertento and Zivalgo
Syngenta announced the names of three foliar-applied insecticide brands for its in-season insect management portfolio in the U.S. today. Upon approval by the Environmental Protection Agency, these foliar insecticide products are anticipated to manage insect pests in cotton, vegetables, tree fruit crops and more.