(June 2008) Poor planting conditions already frustrated corn producers across the northern half of the country this spring, but now that the crop is in, a host of other challenges looms on the horizon. One of those concerns is black cutworm.

While black cutworms can be an annoyance in any year, this year is different in that late planting and/or cooler temperatures have resulted in corn seedlings popping out of the ground just when black cutworms are looking for a feast. If a grower tilled or sprayed herbicides a week or two before planting, they likely eliminated black cutworms because they took away the pests' food source. But if a substantial amount of weeds existed only a few days before planting and the larva was present in the field, there's a good chance they could feed on the corn when it's at its most vulnerable state.

"It's important to start scouting for black cutworms now if you haven't already," says CROPLAN GENETICS® brand regional product manager Lee Wilkinson. "The larvae will be big enough to cut the plant when a seedling emerges, so it's important to get to them before they put a dent in your crop."

Tiny holes in the leaves of seedlings that have recently emerged are the earliest signs of cutworm feeding, and cut, wilted or missing corn plants are the signs of more frequent feeding.

"With corn futures close to $7 a bushel or more, we're at the point where growers can economically justify spraying once cutworms have taken out a very small percent of their crop," Wilkinson adds.

In fact, Professors of Entomology Jon Tollefson and Marlin Rice from the Iowa State University Extension Office published a paper in May that states the economic threshold for controlling black cutworms has dropped from 3 to 5 percent a couple years ago to 1 percent this year. Growers can work the scouting numbers from their own fields by turning to the worksheet on page 60 of the 2008 WinField Solutions™ Crop Protection Guide. This guide is just one resource that your local AgriSolutions™ representative can offer you when scouting your fields this summer.

If growers decide to spray, timely applications of an insecticide like Delta Gold® or Arctic® 3.2 EC can provide good cutworm control.

Once corn has reached the V5 growth stage, cutworms no longer present as serious of a threat because they have a more difficult time cutting through the stalk. However, they can kill a larger plant from time-to-time by putting a gouge into the side of the stalk.

For more information about beating black cutworm and other insects to the punch this growing season, turn to your local CROPLAN GENETICS® specialist and visit your local Answer Plot® site during the growing season.  To find the closest Answer Plot® site near you, log on to www.AnswerPlot.com.