The latest crop progress report for Wisconsin says fieldwork and planting has begun in earnest at least in the southern half of the state. This is also what we’re hearing from crop consultant Eric Birschbach. He owns and operates Ag Site Crop Consulting in western Dane County.
Birschbach’s farm clients in Dane, Iowa and Lafayette counties will likely wrap up with planting corn and soybeans this week if the weather is nice. He says now is the time to follow through on your weed management plan so that weeds are not competing with your crop.
He says folks with cover crops need to be watching for pests, as some insects like to lay eggs in grassy covers. This includes the black cutworm moth.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, black cutworm moths arrived in high numbers for the second consecutive week. The week’s highest count of 143 moths per trap was registered in Rusk County in northwestern Wisconsin.
DATCP pheromone traps have captured a cumulative total of 1,760 moths since traps were set on April 1. Last season at this time, the count was much lower at 469 moths.
Signs of cutworm feeding, such as small pinholes in corn leaves, should become noticeable in emerging corn fields next week. Based on forecast predictions for the next 10 days, the projected starting date for the primary black cutworm damage season is May 23 in advanced areas of southern Wisconsin.
In the central and northwest regions of the state, the first major flights were documented on May 2. Corn growers is these areas can anticipate the opening of the peak damage window on May 25 near La Crosse, May 28 at Eau Claire, and June 1 near Hancock.
Severe black cutworm infestations are relatively infrequent in Wisconsin, and several factors must converge to produce outbreaks. Besides weather systems that facilitate heavy moth migrations into the state, conditions favorable for egg laying and survival of larvae are also required. In most years, spring cutworm problems do not materialize.
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