In the paper, Pests, pesticide use and alternative options in European maize production: current status and future prospects, authors Michael Meissle et al provide a detailed overview of the case study, which included gathering data for 11 European maize-growing areas from databases, publications and expert estimates.

The case study had four aims:

• To give an overview of European maize cultivation practices
• To identify the status and development of the most serious arthropod pests, weeds and fungal diseases in maize
• To compile data on the classes and amounts of pesticides used
• To discuss currently available options for pesticide reduction, potential long-term solutions, as well as the major restrictions on their introduction.

Details of all four points can be found in the paper (go to the Journal of Applied Entomology website to view the paper), and in addition the research team is producing three leaflets in the From Science to Field series designed to aid agricultural advisers, extension services and farmers.

The first of these leaflets, Non-chemical Control of Corn Borers Using Trichogramma or Bt maize, is already available (download the pdf below) and will be followed by leaflets examining Integrated Pest Management solutions for the control of Western Corn Rootworm and the prevention of fusarium ear rot of maize and mycotoxin accumulations.

• To read Pests, pesticide use and alternative options in European maize production: current status and future prospects go to the Journal of Applied Entomology website.
• To download the ENDURE leaflet, Non-chemical Control of Corn Borers Using Trichogramma or Bt maize:
  Maize Case Study Guide Number 1 [pdf - 1.19 MB]
• To consult ENDURE’s complete range of publications, click here.

If you found this article interesting, you may want to consult the following:

• Learning IPM lessons from WCR in Hungary
• Non-chemical solutions to beat corn borers
• Maize: weed control with fewer chemicals