Iowa farmer Lance Lillibridge, who grows corn, alfalfa, and raises cattle, has reported minimal pest pressure in his crops despite a wetter than expected growing season. Lillibridge has only seen one corn rootworm beetle and a few ears with clipped silks, possibly due to rootworm beetles or Japanese beetles. He has also noted minimal disease pressure while scouting his fields, prompting him to plan for a fungicide spray in the near future.
Despite his cautious optimism about this year’s crop, Lillibridge acknowledges the potential challenges of excessive moisture, as past dry years have yielded impressive crops. However, he reports that subsoil moisture levels have remained adequate, with only a few dry pockets in his fields.
This positive news from Lillibridge provides hope for a successful harvest season in Benton County, Iowa. Farmers in the region will be watching closely to see if this trend of minimal pest and disease pressure continues throughout the rest of the growing season. Overall, Lillibridge’s experience serves as a good sign for the agricultural community in Iowa, demonstrating the resilience of crops even in less than ideal weather conditions.
Source
Photo credit www.brownfieldagnews.com