This week has been a rough one when it comes to insect pests, particularly true armyworm. On June 11, Tracey Baute (field crop entomologist) and Joanna Follings (cereals specialist) with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) released a report on true armyworm and cereal leaf beetle in cereal crops.
It stated that reports were coming in that the insect pests had been spotted in Ontario fields. Most fields had not reached economic thresholds for control for either pest, but farmers were cautioned to keep an eye out.
Then, on June 15, the proverbial manure hit the fan. It started with a post on Twitter from Melody Robinson, an agronomist in the Haldimand-Niagara area.
Armyworm…. everywhere! You could definitely say we are at threshold in this field 😩 #fromthefield pic.twitter.com/AyynqRBlU0
— Melody Robinson (@robinson_melody) June 16, 2020
The following day, Baute advised farmers to scout certain crops as soon as they could in order to determine whether control was necessary in their fields.
#OntAg scout corn, cereals and mixed forages asap. Best in evening when they are active. t.co/weHPsiujNu
— Tracey Baute (@TraceyBaute) June 16, 2020
Later on, it was confirmed that several other counties were also experiencing significant armyworm pressure in wheat crops.
Armyworm ALERT. Reports of armyworm at threshold in wheat in Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Haldimand, Brant, Niagara, Grey and Simcoe counties. Mixed forages, corn, and some veggies at risk too. Scout at dusk/ night best. Recent FCN article: t.co/1LClzTv7Vy #ontag #scout20
— Tracey Baute (@TraceyBaute) June 16, 2020
Insect pests move quickly, so be sure to be on guard. Scout fields regularly if a pest is due to appear. For identification and management, Baute and Follings recommend the Agronomy Guide for Field Crops, the Field Crop Protection Guide and an OMAFRA Field Crop News article discussing cereal leaf beetle and true armyworm in greater depth.
