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Watch for black cutworms this spring

An agronomist in northwest Missouri encourages farmers to keep an eye out for black cutworms as corn and soybeans emerge.

Erin Marlow with Cropwise Consulting tells Brownfield it’s early for the pest, but there have been favorable conditions.

“After last week, we had some really strong southern winds and high heat temperatures.”

Marlow says the pest is usually found in corn, but it also likes soybeans.

“If there were some fields planted in to heavy with henbit, I think as those young soybeans come up and the black cutworm move away from the weed, it’s going to look for a host and if soybeans are there, that’s what it will eat.”

She says a topical application of insecticides can help control the pest.