Durastak hybrids provide three Bt protein stack for corn rootworm control

BOONE, Iowa — Golden Harvest is launching 14 new corn hybrids for the 2027 growing season.

“The key things you are getting out of the 2027 class are enhanced root and stalk strength and early-season vigor and emergence,” said Matt Dolch, Syngenta corn product manager.

“They also have broad adaptability so you can drive the population if needed or pull back on the population if you are in a drier climate,” he said from the Golden Harvest innovation trial at the Farm Progress Show. “That allows some really good placement flexibility on these products.”

“Durastak is the industry’s first three Bt protein stack for corn rootworm control,” he said. “It is our next-level corn rootworm control with improved standability and top yield potential.”

There are a lot of technologies available today to farmers.

“Durastak is uniquely different from the other options,” Dolch said. “We invite growers to try something new and utilize Durastak to help manage a pest that costs them a lot of money.”

Several new Durastak hybrids were growing in the innovation trial at the show for farmers to evaluate.

“We know corn rootworm costs U.S. farmers up to $1 billion per year,” Dolch said.

“We see a 15% yield loss per node of injury from corn rootworms, according to Iowa State University research,” he said. “So, that adds up really quickly.”

“Durastak provides two times more root node protection versus other products that are available,” he noted. “We have seen a 9.7 bushel per acre advantage versus our Duracade products.”

In the innovation trial, Golden Harvest hybrids ranged from 95 to 104 relative maturity.

“This G95X41 is the earliest product featured here,” Dolan said. “This G98X63 is a Durastak Viptera hybrid that combines the leading above-ground protection with our corn rootworm protection.”

Golden Harvest is not just focusing on the problems that farmers are experiencing today in their fields.

“We are all about innovation — that is why we have an innovation trial here,” Dolch said.

“We have to think about what farmers will face in five, 10 or 15 years,” he said. “When you think about a trait taking 15 years to come to market on average, we have to be thinking about that so we can stay that innovative company that farmers expect from Syngenta and our Golden Harvest brand.”

The challenges will continue, Dolan said, since corn rootworms are always evolving.

“They are laying their eggs in soybean fields knowing that producers are going to grow corn there the following season,” he said.

Digging up corn plants and looking at the roots can help farmers determine if they have a problem with corn rootworms.

“Underground there could be a whole different story going on with pests that are feeding and taking yield from your corn plants,” Dolan said. “And you may not see that until one day you walk out there and your corn is falling over and lodging.”

It is important for farmers to be proactive and know their field history.

“If you had corn rootworm feeding pressure in the past, we want farmers to utilize a comprehensive insect management plan for corn rootworm,” Dolan said. “That includes rotation to another crop, utilizing different trait technologies and a soil applied insecticide, as well.”

The new Golden Harvest corn hybrids, the spokesperson said, also have great disease tolerance for Goss’s wilt, Southern rust and gray leaf spot.

“We did not see as much rust this year in fields as we saw last year,” he said. “There are still areas where it will take some yield away, but not to the significance that we saw in the 2025 season.”

Tar spot disease continues to expand in U.S. fields.

“It is coming into more areas of Nebraska,” Dolan said. “Farmers need to look at the tolerance for tar spot and we have some good hybrid options for them.”

In some areas this year, he said, farmers that planted earlier maturities or where they pushed populations have seen a problem with fusarium crown rot.

“We have really nice fusarium crown rot tolerance in our lineup to help farmers manage full-season standability,” the product manager said.