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Agronomist says corn rootworm management has been effective

A technical agronomist says corn rootworm pressure has decreased in some areas of the Midwest.

DEKALB Asgrow’s Nicole Stecklein tells Brownfield, “I don’t think that we’re seeing quite the issues that we have in the past couple of years. I give a lot of credit to our farmers for really taking the bull by the horns and going full throttle on management for rootworm since our big year in 2020.”

But she says rootworm populations are still prevalent and management practices need to continue. “We’ve got to be rotating (crops). With the westerns, by rotating we can essentially bring our populations down to ground zero and then we can start over again with a fresh slate. Number two, (DEKALB) SmartStax PRO is a really great trait package.”

Stecklein says corn-on-corn environments can help Western Corn Rootworm’s thrive.

AUDIO: DEKALB Asgrow technical agronomist Nicole Stecklein 8-2-2024