Armyworms are creating problems for area farmers

It's a problem that isn't seen very often in Northeast Iowa, but ISU Extension Agronomist Brian Lang in Decorah says some farmers are beginning to report severe damage to corn from second generation true armyworms.

Lang says farmers shouldn't be experiencing the problem if they do a basic crop scouting on a weekly basis.  "This is one insect pest that is easy to respond to before too much damage is done," he says.  But if farmers ignore the pests, it only takes a couple of weeks for a field to have big problems. 

True armyworm larvae keep feeding until they get about 1.5 inches long, says Lang.  Because the larvae are active at night, apply treatments late in the day.