Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe CRW is relatively new to you folks in the "east". I'm not sure right now how long we've had them here...maybe 20 yrs+?

Throwing wheat into the cycle is absolutely nothing new in NE IL. I think most doing that are satisfied they need CRW Bt to assure success of a RW damaged-free corn crop. Use of granular insecticides would be the only alternative here, and in that drought you mentioned, they are highly subject to fail. That's our experience. Again, I presume you're talking about the RW larvae damage, and not just the adult beetles.

Good luck w/your work there though. Folks such as yourself certainly have to keep in mind when speaking to the public that a "here" is most often needed when validating your plots.