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Deep freeze unlikely to curb overwintering crop pests in Upper Midwest

Recent cold weather is not expected to have much impact on overwintering crop pests in the Upper Midwest.

University of Minnesota Extension pest management specialist Anthony Hanson says temps plummeted below minus 20 degrees toward the end of January.

“And that’s kind of about the time of year when people might be hoping that we’re going to have some pests dying back because of the cold.”

While it varies by region, he tells Brownfield most overwintering insects are very hardy.

“So overall, it didn’t get quite cold enough for a lot of these insects to really start seeing a lot of mortality. At least in most of Minnesota.”

Hanson says farmers should not anticipate significant reductions for common pests like soybean aphid, alfalfa weevil, and corn rootworm.