A 3-year research study conducted by five U.S. universities and the USDA found that fall armyworms in the southeastern U.S. are developing resistance to genetically modified crops.

According to Reuters, armyworms resistant to the Cry1F protein found in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn traits have been documented in some areas of Florida and North Carolina. Researchers don’t know the range of their presence.

Louisiana State University entomologist and lead study researcher Fangneng Huang says newer types of corn containing the Bt traits with multiple modes of action are still showing effectiveness, but they don’t know how long that will last.

Researchers encourage farmers to plant more non-GMO corn as a refuge and possibly increase their use of pesticides to control fall armyworm resistance.

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