Agronomic Management
As with any cotton variety, using the best agronomic management practices with B.t. cotton will yield the greatest benefits. Use varieties, seeding rates and planting technologies appropriate for each specific area. As much as possible, manage the crop to avoid plant stress.
Manage Target Insects
Although Bollgard II cotton provides a higher level of control of all lepidopterous pests than Bollgard, high populations of cotton bollworm or other lepidopterous insect pests may reach damaging levels that warrant supplemental insecticide applications. If any cotton insect pest reaches locally established economic thresholds in any B.t. cotton, the use of appropriate remedial insecticide treatments to ensure desired levels of control is recommended. Fields should be carefully monitored for all pests, including cotton bollworms, to determine the need for remedial insecticide treatments. For target pests, scouting techniques and supplemental treatment decisions should take into account the fact that larvae must hatch and feed before they can be affected by the proteins produced by the B.t. gene(s) in Bollgard or Bollgard II. Fields should be scouted regularly during periods of heavy or sustained egg lay, especially during bloom. Scouting should include a modified whole-plant inspection, including terminals, squares, blooms, bloom tags and small bolls. Larvae greater than 1/4 inch (3 to 4 days old) are generally recognized as survivors that will be difficult to control with B.t. protein(s) alone. Apply supplemental insecticides if the frequency of such advanced-stage larvae or plant damage warrants treatment. Changes to these recommendations may be required under certain circumstances; consult the local crop adviser or extension specialist for management recommendations in your specific area.
Manage Non-Target Insects
Although B.t. cotton will sustain less damage from some of the most troublesome lepidopteran pests, it will not provide protection against nonlepidopteran species. These insects should be monitored and treated when necessary using recommended thresholds and insecticides. If possible, choose insecticides that are least harmful to beneficial insects. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)