Minor region, major impact: The producer experience and extension for Bt-resistant ECB in the Maritime provinces

This presentation provides an overview of the agricultural extension efforts and producer experiences in the Maritime Provinces of Canada following the discovery of Bt-resistant Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer) in Nova Scotia in 2018. The development of this major pest issue in a small corn growing region has significant impacts on the agronomic and economic decisions producers are faced with at present and for the foreseeable future. Various methods of knowledge transfer have been employed to share vital information on this subject including in-person presentations, field days, factsheets, and podcasts. There remain challenges in gaining interest and uptake in alternative management practices targeting European corn borer due in part to their novelty in relation to other geographical areas and their economic viability in the production of corn primarily for livestock feed.