News

Peak time for pest scouting in Eastern Corn Belt

A field crop educator says farmers need to be cautious about management to control options for emerging pest and weed pressures in the Eastern Corn Belt.

Bruce MacKellar with Michigan State University Extension tells Brownfield if farmers use a rootworm insecticide to control Asiatic garden beetles, a foliar spray for Western bean cut worms and multiple modes of control for herbicide resistant weeds, there can be complications.  “Even though it’s a herbicide and an insecticide, they can have interactions that cause crop injury.”

He says this year Asiatic garden beetles are becoming more prevalent throughout the region and more consideration needs to be given when combating several in-field challenges.  “Asiatic garden beetle is a pest that’s moved from east to west, through Ohio and then into northern Indiana and back into southern Michigan.”  He says the pest looks similar to Japanese beetles, but cause more damage to corn roots, and will cause uneven corn stands.

Asiatic garden beetles are a turf pest that started to appear in the Eastern Corn Belt in the last 15 years, but don’t appear every year and have not been reported west of Michigan and Indiana. Educators in Ohio have reported the greatest infestations around marestail plants.

Extension educators from the region are encouraging farmers to scout for both pests as populations are expected to reach their peak in the coming weeks. A joint research project is in the works for Michigan and Ohio next year, funding depending.

A field day in southwest Michigan August 2nd in Vicksburg will highlight pest and weed issues for farmers and the best control options.

AUDIO: Interview with Bruce MacKellar