Cutworm damage could be an issue in some southern corn-growing areas, as locally delayed planting puts young corn seedlings in the crosshairs of hungry, large cutworm larvae.

Cutworms could be an early season issue again in 2009. (Photo courtesy NDSU)

“We have a lot of no-till farmers who, because of the wet weather, haven’t been able to get burndown herbicides on timely,” said Glenn Studebaker, an extension entomologist with the University of Arkansas. “They’re planting straight into heavy weed pressure, with the burndown going on right ahead or right after the planter. Those weeds are great habitat for cutworms.”

Studebaker recommends farmers treat fields with pyrethroid insecticides either at planting or soon after for such weedy conditions. “Usually a band treatment over the row with the planter is enough. Cutworms are very sensitive to pyrethroids,” he said. Growers who haven’t applied insecticides should scout fields carefully for cutworm activity.

Other states are beginning to show increases in cutworm moth flights, which can be a precursor to larvae problems. Moth traps monitored by the University of Missouri show intensive cutworm moth captures since early April in the Bootheel region, and this week had an intensive capture as far north as Morgan County in the central area of the state. The counts create the potential for crop cutting May 4 in the south, and May 15 in central areas, according to the report.

Corn planted later is often more susceptible to heavy damage as cutworm larvae have had time to grow to the fourth instar stage where they begin cutting plants.

Source: DTN’s Greg D. Horstmeier