Time to Check For Corn Cutworms – Ag Matters

The corn is silking and many fields are fully tasseled.  The latest crop conditions report from Cornell Cooperative Extension suggest now is the time to check for corn rootworm.  Here's a tip on how.

Step into the field 50’, grab the silk of the corn plant, start counting Corn Root Worm on the plant from top to bottom counting western corn rootworms as 1 and northern corn rootworms as 0.5 western equivalents. Go to a plant 10 ft away and continue your
count, go to a third plant and continue your count. Repeat this procedure in the middle of the field and then at the far end of the field.

So if you counted beetles on 9 plants and found only one western corn rootworm then you were under threshold. If you counted 17 or more you are over threshold. If you were somewhere in between you have to continue your counting until you are either over or under threshold for the number of plants in your sample. If you are over threshold, you have the option to rotate to another crop, if this was your first year of corn next year you could use a seed treatment for corn rootworm.

For more information on the procedure and to get the latests crop condition report hit this page. Or contact Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Ag Team at (315) 736-3394 or online Office hours are 8:30 to 4:40 Mon-Fri.

SOURCE:  Cornell Cooperative Extension