P.O. Box 318

Marty Jungman
Extension Agent-Pest Management
Office: 254/582-3551
Fax: 254/582-5512

GENERAL SITUATION

The moisture situation across the area is wet. Rainfall was received on April 23 with reports ranging from a little less than one inch to a little more than an inch. Corn growth stage will range from just coming up to ten inches tall. Grain sorghum will vary from just planted to four inches tall. The majority of the cotton was planted this past week. Producers, in a number of cases, still lack completion of some cotton acreage. The rainfall on April 23 should insure any cotton or grain sorghum acreage where the seed was laying in dry soil conditions to come up to a stand.

WHEAT

Armyworms are being seen in wheat fields in low to high numbers. Counts will range from 1-6 per square foot. The economic threshold level is 4 per square foot with feeding on leaves. Larvae will range in size from small to large. Producers should monitor their wheat for this pest. When monitoring wheat for armyworms, remove all dead leaves and organic matter for a clean soil surface and count the number of larvae in a one square foot area. (Armyworms are most likely found close to the base of the plant.) In general, we are seeing higher numbers of armyworms

in the wheat with more leaf canopy (thicker wheat). This is not inclusive of all situations.

CORN and GRAIN SORGHUM

Cutworm damage is being seen in some area fields. Producers when monitoring their fields will see plants that were cut off because of this pest. In general, fields that were planted with scattered weeds are the
most likely candidate to have problems with cutworms. I have also seen a few fields that were relatively clean of weeds and still have cutworm problems. There have been several fields that have been treated for this pest.

Armyworms are also being seen in corn and grain sorghum with problems more likely occurring in weedy field conditions.

COTTON

Producers should monitor their cotton once fields come up to a stand for cutworm and armyworm problems.

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