Potential Pests in #NoPlant19

Black cutworm larva and corn seedling plant cut off at soil line. Jocelyn Smith, UGRC

Black cutworm in particular is something to be watching for. Black cutworm moth flights have been heavier than usual this spring. Moths easily found chickweed and low lying weeds to lay eggs on given how delayed herbicide applications have been. Fields that did get planted have young corn plants just emerging and there will be larger older larvae moving to them. These larger larvae can cut the tiny plants off at or below the soil level. More information on black cutworm scouting can be found in this previous Black Cutworm Article. Hybrids containing Cry1F or Vip3A traits (link to Bt trait table) or treated with Fortenza or Poncho/NipsIT insecticide seed treatment would be protected. Those fields without protection may still be able to have a rescue treatment done if the larvae are still smaller than 2.5cm in size. Anything larger and the insecticide will not be effective. For thresholds and rescue treatment options see the Field Crop Protection Guide.

 

Wireworms, millipedes, slugs and grubs take advantage of cool, wet springs like this. Crop emergence gets delayed and seeds and seedlings struggle to grow past the feeding injury. On the positive side, the later a field gets planted, the more likely the crop will grow quickly and avoid being fed on compared to those that got planted early.

 

Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) is another potential threat. CLB infestations have been reported today in Essex County but with so few acres of wheat across the province, any field is at potential risk. And heavier infestations usually follow cool, wet springs that seem to be detrimental to their natural enemies. More info on CLB can be found in this past Cereal Leaf Beetle article.

 

Alfalfa weevil is another pest to watch for. Similar to cereal leaf beetle, in cool, wet springs, their natural enemies don’t do as well. Delayed first cut can lead to significant feeding damage going unnoticed. More info on alfalfa weevil can be found in this past Alfalfa Weevil article.

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.