Information from entomologists at the University of Tennessee Experiment Station at Jackson indicates several counties in west Tennessee are experiencing outbreak levels of fall armyworm in pastures.

Our pheromone trap counts in KY have increased, but not very much. Pheromone trap counts in Jackson and Milan, TN show larger increases in moth capture but we have little data with which to compare these values. It is hard to judge whether or not this will be a problem for us this fall, but this insect is always a potential problem. Certainly the activity in west Tennessee is an indicator of increased risk in west Kentucky.

Potential problem areas include pastures, early planted small grains, fall seeded alfalfa, fall seeded grasses of any kind e.g. yards, playing fields, roadsides, mine reclamation etc.

Potential threat will continue until a hard frost. In no-tillage or in situations with ground cover, this insect will survive several light frosts. It does NOT over winter in KY.