LANCASTER - Corn borers m °re serious. A survey of county responding, 360 ranked com borer
have long been a problem, but in extension agents in 17 states last as a major problem in ‘B3. That
1983 they suddenly became much winter found that of 435 agents number was higher than any other
Rescue plan still best for corn borers
bmcMter Farming, Saturday, April 28,1984-D2l
insect, including corn rootworm,
which was mentioned only 249
times by the agents.
But despite the increased threat
presented by corn borers, most
insect specialists still recommend
waiting until they hit before trying
to treat for them.
Bill Pagano of Stauffer Chemical
Company says that of the two
methods of controlling corn borer,
planting-time and rescue treat
ment, the rescue treatment is the
best. Planting-time treatment,
Pagano says, requires three times
the normal rate of insecticide to
control the borers.
‘That is simply not the best
approach, because it’s uncertain
whether corn borers will even be a
problem in any particular field,”
he asserts.
Instead, he suggests a planting
time treatment with an insecticide
like Dyfonate at normal rates to
control insects such as rootworms
and cutworms. The insecticide can
be applied again, over the top, if
borers infest the field.
He says careful serveillance can
be used to spot corn borers in
plenty of time to prevent serious
damage. This involves monitoring
moth traps to determine when the
borers are likely to be laying eggs,
then checking fields for egg
masses. A commonly used
economic threshold for treatment
is one egg mass per plant, or when
Egg Board changes
PARK RIDGE, 11. - The
American Egg Board has
recommended to Secretary of
Agriculture John R. Block that
changes be made in the number of
members representing four of the
six AEB areas beginning in 1985.
The action was taken at the
Board’s recent meeting held in the
Chicago area.
According to Board Chairman
Edward L. Houston, of National
Poultry and Foods, Inc., the
recommendation was made as a
result of changing geographical
production trends.
The recommended changes are
as follows;
South Atlantic Region
Decreased from four members to
three.
South Central
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50 percent of the plants have some
feeding damage showing.
Pagano says the time to worry
about corn borer is in early June
when the temperature in con
sistently warm at night. The moths
are likely to be flying and laying
their eggs on those nights when the
wind is calm and the humidity is
high.
Over-the-top treatment at that
time will effectively stop first
generation damage but there is a
chance that a second or third
generation infestations of the
borers might develop. If that
happens the situation gets more
complex but with careful planning
Pagano says damage can be kept
to a minimum.
The principal threat that second
generation borers presents is to the
ear shanks. They burrow into the
shanks, weakening them and
causing the ears to drop to the
ground. Because the second
generation threat can last over a
two or three week period, it is
sometimes economical to treat
twice for them, Pagano says. That
means careful monitoring of the
fields so that the applications are
timed to do the most good.
Pagano says that corn borers
can be a serious problem and if
1983 is any indicator, 1984 could be
bad. But with a carefully timed
insecticide program, the borers
can be held in check and damage
kept to a minimum.
Decreased from four members to
three.
East North Central Region -
Increased from two members to
three.
Western Region - Increased from
three members to four.
The North Atlantic and West
North Central regions would
remain the same with three
members and two members
respectively.
Tlie USDA will notify AEB of the
Secretary’s decision on the matter,
with any action taking place when
USDA appoints new members and
alternates in 1985.
The Board consists of 18
members in six areas. The number
of members in each area is based
on the percentage of national egg
production represented by the
area.
Region
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