Corn Earworm
An active southwest flow weather pattern is expected to continue across much of the corn-growing region for the rest of the week and into at least a portion of next weekend, as well. Favorable southerly wind flow east of a cold front in the Plains states leads to nightly chances of corn earworm migration, and Moderate risks have been introduced to the forecast by late week and into the weekend. Low risks are predicted tonight into tomorrow mainly south of I-90 and west of I-35, with Low risks continuing tomorrow night into Friday primarily west of Lake Michigan. Moderate risks are in the forecast now across portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Friday night into Saturday, and also Saturday night into Sunday across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois with Low risks extending as far east as Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio by the weekend. While most field corn is now past critical growth stages where corn earworms can do much damage, some late planted and more importantly processing/fresh market fields are likely still at risk especially in the Moderate risk area. Growers are encouraged to continue to check traps and scout fields given the favorable weather pattern expected for potential migration events.