Corn Earworm
Low corn earworm migration risks are in the forecast overnight tonight into tomorrow morning especially east of I-57 in far eastern Illinois, southern lower Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, southwest Ontario, Canada and Kentucky as a cold front works its way east through the corn-growing region. South to southwest winds are expected to focus in the risk area, and are originating from favorable corn earworm source regions so some isolated moth flights will be possible. Another low pressure system and associated cold front are predicted to organize in the western Plains states by the end of the week, and this weather system may allow additional corn earworm moth flights to occur mainly across Kansas, eastern Nebraska, Iowa, western Illinois, and Missouri Thursday night into Friday and then between I-35 and I-69 mainly south of I-80 in far eastern Kansas, Missouri, southeast Iowa, much of Illinois, and Indiana Friday night into Saturday. Growers should be advised that even though many corn fields are not at risk of seeing any corn earworm damage at this point that early season flights may lead to higher populations later in the growing season. Additionally, fruit and produce growers in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region may see some corn earworm damage now from these early season flights.