We will be watching the weather as the wheat goes into head over the next week or so to see what predictions we can make for head scab in northern Ohio. If cutting is above ground, cut plants will likely recover if a timely rescue treatment is applied. In contrast, below ground feeding is generally characterized by wilting plants that have been cut below the growing point, or plants cut off before emergence. Early detection of cutworm infestations and timely application of rescue treatments are the keys to achieving effective stand protection where preventive treatments have not been applied. If a significant cutworm infestation is detected too late, cutting has occurred below ground and below the growing point, then a rescue treatment may achieve marginal results.
Cutworms can occasionally infest soybean fields and cause stand loss.
An instance of a dark-sided cutworm infestation in soybeans was reported in 2000 in Madison County. In cases where re-growth appears to be retarded 7 to 10 days after harvest due to feeding activity of weevil adults or larvae, application of a stubble spray may be warranted. Although a harvest of alfalfa will generally decimate the weevil population, surviving larvae will continue feeding on re-growth and show the second cutting. Because slug eggs have hatched throughout the state, growers, especially those with past problems, should begin monitoring their fields for the presence of slugs and injury. In fields with a slug population, growers might see an increase in defoliation over the next few weeks.