News

Early season pests to watch

 

An entomologist says she’s received more calls than usual this year from farmers about grub damage.

Chis DiFonzo with Michigan State University Extension says this year has been a good year for grubs in sandy soils in the Eastern Corn Belt.  “With reduced tillage this is something that we just have as a byproduct.  Another byproduct is slugs.”

She says weed management, soil insecticides and delayed planting can help control the pests.  “If you do have a fallow field, I would prefer that you go to corn so that you can apply a soil insecticide, you don’t have those options with other crops.  Tillage can help but it’s not a 100 percent cure in a heavy infestation.”

DiFonzo says black cut worm moths are moving north and have been caught in traps in southern Michigan, but no grower damage has been reported yet.

MSU Extension educator Martin Chilvers says Sporecasters is a new app that can help farmers identify their risk of white mold in soybeans and other crops.  “What it does is predict when those white mold apothecia or mushrooms are developing in the soybean canopy.  We hope that we might be able to use it in dry beans, potentially potatoes and other crops, too.”  He says it can be downloaded for free from apple or android app stores.

AUDIO: DiFonzo and Chilvers comments during last week’s MSU Field Crops Team’s virtual breakfast.