Corn Earworm
Moderate corn earworm migration risks continue in the forecast on a nightly basis right into early next week as a cold front slowly moves southeast through the central corn-growing region. South to southwest winds will be prevalent east of this front, and scattered to widespread precipitation clusters will continue east of the front, serving as potential drop zone regions. Moderate risks are predicted tonight into tomorrow from Iowa and southeast Minnesota east as far as southwest lower Michigan and Indiana, with Moderate risks then shifting focus a little further east tomorrow night into Sunday, mainly from northern Missouri, central/eastern Iowa, and Wisconsin east into the southern Great Lakes region and areas generally west of I-75. Over time, south to southwest winds are expected to decrease especially as we get into next week, but will remain persistent and they may tap into moth source regions further east in the mid-south region where crops are less attractive to corn earworms at this point. These moths may want to fly north to more suitable fields especially in the southern Great Lakes and eastern corn-growing regions along/east of the Mississippi River where Moderate risks are being maintained into at least Tuesday morning next week. Growers are encouraged to monitor traps and scout fields especially where crops are at a vulnerable stage to corn earworm damage.

