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Battle to control corn rootworm

Corn rootworm is one of the most devastating crop pests.

Syngenta U.S. insecticide technical product lead Kevin Langdon says growers have relied heavily on traits to control rootworm larvae and resistance has developed.

“There are new trait technologies, which is great. But at the end of the day for best performance, we really need to be looking at a corn soil-applied insecticide.”

He tells Brownfield Syngenta is bringing to market a liquid insecticide for below-ground pests that’s compatible with fertilizers called Opello.

“What we wanted to do is try to rid kind of the equipment challenges (and) bring a product forward that is tank-mix compatible that can be directly tank-mixed, and an open application system in with that liquid fertilizer. And be applied in that furrow at the time of planting.”

Langdon says Opello has been in the review process since 2021, and Syngenta expects federal registration late this year and commercial release ahead of the 2026 growing season.