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Be on the lookout for early season pests

Farmers are encouraged to scout for pests.

Iowa State University Extension agronomist Meaghan Anderson says early planted soybeans are vulnerable to insects like bean leaf beetles.

“And then we certainly have our fair share of moths always flying across the state, so paying attention to things like the black cutworm. Now is the time on any emerged corn to be scouting for cutting from black cutworm.”

She tells Brownfield cover crops often host of unwanted pests.

“Any of these fields that have had a lot of green cover, keeping an eye out for both black cutworm as well as the true armyworms.”

Iowa’s Moth Trapping Network reports significant armyworm and black cutworm flights in recent weeks.