Scout corn now for black cutworm and rootworm threats

May 27, 2024

By Farms.com

As June approaches, farmers should be vigilant against insect pests in their cornfields. The University of Illinois Extension identifies two key threats: black cutworm and western corn rootworm.

Black cutworm larvae are now large enough to inflict significant damage by cutting down corn plants. Scouting is crucial, especially in fields with poor winter weed control. Look for cut plants and check the surrounding soil for larvae with a characteristic sheen. If 2-5% of plants are cut with larvae present, consider an insecticide application.

Western corn rootworm egg hatch is reaching its peak in Illinois. Root feeding by these larvae is expected until late June. Planting delays can reduce rootworm threats as hatched larvae may not find established roots. However, root feeding damage will be evident in a month, allowing farmers to assess control effectiveness.

The western corn rootworm's ability to adapt to control methods necessitates monitoring field performance to determine the best future strategies. This pest has historically caused significant economic damage to corn crops.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.