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Illinois ag pest survey sees pockets of pressure

The coordinator of the Illinois Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey (CAPS) says this summer’s preliminary results show pockets of insect pressure.

Kelly Estes and her team of students have been sampling random fields across the state for a variety of insects, especially western corn rootworm.

“Overall, I think the trend again with western corn rootworms is low.”  She says, “I will say there are locations around the state where western corn rootworm, as well as northern corn rootworm, is present. A lot of those areas are focused in the northwest as well as the northeast.”

She tells Brownfield all insect numbers were generally low.

“As we’re going, we can definitely see quite a few acres were sprayed.”  She says, “The fields that were not did have insect pressure, but not nearly as high as in years past.”

Estes says regular scouting is the best way for farmers to know what pests are impacting their fields.

“There are definitely areas of the state that are facing different insect issues,” she says, “and we are always wanting to know about that and encourage people to let us know what’s going on in your area.”

She says the full survey results will be released later this year.

AUDIO: Kelly Estes – Illinois Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey