2019 corn rootworm populations could lead to 2021 explosion

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2019 corn rootworm populations could lead to 2021 explosion

An agronomist with Golden Harvest warns high corn rootworm numbers two years ago could lead to an explosion this growing season.

During a virtual agronomy summit Tuesday, Adam Mayer said heavy infestations of the northern species were observed in several geographies in 2019.

“We had heavy infestations in 2019 (and) those females laid eggs in those fields, and they are going to be hatching this spring and summer.”

He anticipates increased rootworm pressure in acres coming back into corn production in 2021.

“At least use a single rootworm trait, and in a lot of cases we do prefer the dual mode of action to make sure we are combatting resistance.”

Mayer says other “watchouts” for corn rootworm this year will be late planted fields, continuous corn, and weedy fields.

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