Insect Pressure in 2017

​Black Cutworms, Fall Armyworms and European Corn Borer (ECB) have created problems this year, especially in fields planted with cover crops. The mild winter probably led to more insects surviving over winter.  Continue to scout your fields with greater concern paid to weedy areas or late planted corn. Adding an insecticide to a spray program may be cost effective, especially in continuous corn. Ideally, pesticides should be applied when there is no wind and when bees are not visiting plants in the area. In general, evening or early night applications are the least harmful to bees. It also is worth doing some root digs to determine root damage from Corn Rootworm (CRW).  Miller Hybrids has some adult corn rootworm traps to allow you to see the corn rootworm pressure you may have in rotated fields.  Contact Miller Hybrids if you would like to participate in this monitoring program.

Identification photos created by multiple state extension agencies.