Jayant Ahalawat

Disclaimer: This post was written by FBN Data Scientist Jayant Ahalawat, with research support by Norm , the world’s first AI Ag advisor. Black cutworm activity is increasing across the Midwest, potentially resulting in corn and soybean crop damage, according to a recent report from the University of Illinois. 1  The map below illustrates the total number of black cutworms across the Midwest between March 1, 2023 and May 18, 2023. Based on FBN ® data, cutworms are affecting over 1700 FBN member farmers over 2.3 million acres. If you have a traited corn package, you may already have protection. We recommend monitoring your fields to ensure your crop is withstanding the insect pressure. [RELATED: Managing Weeds and Pests in Conventional Corn and Soybeans Starts with a Good Chem Plan] What Is Black Cutworm? Black cutworm (aka Agrotis ipsilon) is a pest that can potentially inflict significant damage to crops like corn and soybeans. Recognizing black cutworm activity and quickly dealing with a potential infestation is the first step to eliminating these pests and protecting crops.  A migratory pest, the black cutworm often travels from southern regions up to the Midwest in the spring. After reaching their destination, female moths lay their eggs on vegetation, mainly in fields with substantial weed growth. Under suitable conditions, these eggs develop into larvae, which are responsible for subsequent crop damage. These caterpillars can severely impact young corn and soybean plants by cutting the stems at or beneath the soil surface. Identifying Black Cutworm  Monitoring your fields regularly is key to managing black cutworms. Pay special attention to areas with heavy weed growth or low-lying spots as cutworms favor these terrains. Look for signs such as irregular holes in leaves, wilting, or cut plants to identify potential problem areas.  Treatment is typically recommended when at least 3% of plants show signs of cutworm damage. 1   How to Control and Treat Black Cutworm In addition to general pest management practices such as weed control, specific insecticides can be used to prevent or treat black cutworm infestations. Two such pesticides are lambda-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin. Lambda-cyhalothrin Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC is a broad-spectrum insecticide that can help control black cutworms by affecting an insect’s nervous system upon contact or ingestion. If your corn or soybean fields are in areas with increased cutworm activity or show early signs of cutworm damage, consider applying lambda-cyhalothrin* by air or ground as a preventive measure. Bifenthrin Bifenthrin is another insecticide option that functions similarly to bifenthrin by affecting insects' nervous systems. Bifenthrin LFR 1.5 Value Pick* is formulated so that it can be mixed directly with water and applied in-furrow at planting, while GCS Bifenthrin 2EC* is applied during the growing season in response to insect observation in the field and can be used in the event of lambda-cyhalothrin resistance.  Always follow the product label's recommended usage rates and safety precautions to avoid adverse environmental effects and prevent resistance development. [RELATED: Address These Early Season Soybean Pests] Control Pest Pressures with Insecticides from FBN Direct ® Understanding the behavior of black cutworms is the first step to managing an infestation in your fields. By regularly monitoring your fields, adhering to treatment thresholds and using effective treatments like lambda-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin , you can control and treat a potential cutworm population in your corn or soybean fields.  Double down on savings and convenience with direct-to-farm delivery from FBN Direct . Shop now to get 5% off fungicides and insecticides** when purchased with an adjuvant or crop nutrition product. Sources: Estes, K. " Black cutworm feeding possible in coming weeks ." Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, May 17, 2023. https://farmdoc.illinois.edu/field-crop-production/black-cutworm-feeding-possible-in-coming-weeks.html Image source: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 < http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 />, via Wikimedia Commons © 2014 - 2023 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, “FBN”, “FBN Direct”, “Farmers First” are service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. *Lambda-cyhalothrin and Bifenthrin are restricted use pesticides. ** Discount available to FBN Members. Must purchase a fungicide and/or insecticide with any adjuvant and/or crop nutrition product between May 19, 2023 and June 16, 2023. Discount will be applied automatically when the customer meets the purchase minimum of qualified products. Additional terms and conditions may apply.  FBN Direct products and services and other products distributed by FBN Direct are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC in the United States and Farmer’s Business Network Canada, Inc in Canada and are available only in states/provinces where FBN Inputs, LLC/Farmer’s Business Network Canada Inc.  is licensed and where those products are registered for sale or use, if applicable. Not available in Quebec. If applicable, please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Nothing contained on this page, including the prices listed should be construed as an offer for sale, or a sale of products. All products and prices are subject to change at any time and without notice. Terms and conditions apply. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state/provincial law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its label. The distribution, sale and use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state/provincial law and is strictly prohibited. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided on this page or which is provided by us in any form. It is your responsibility to confirm prior to purchase and use that a product is labeled for your specific purposes, including, but not limited to, your target crop or pest and its compatibility with other products in a tank mix and that the usage of a product is otherwise consistent with federal, state and local laws. We reserve the right to restrict sales on a geographic basis in our sole discretion. You must have a valid applicator license to use restricted use pesticides. Please consult your state/provincial department of agriculture for complete rules and regulations on the use of restricted use pesticides, as some products require specific record-keeping requirements. All product recommendations and other information provided is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for consulting the product label or for specific agronomic, business, or professional advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, consult with a qualified advisor. Neither Farmer's Business Network Inc. nor any of its affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in the material and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.

It’s that time of year once again. Across North America, farmers are looking over their fields and wondering what to expect on the yield monitor when they roll through. If you’re like most farmers, you probably have your preferred method for making an educated guess when it comes to yield. Perhaps you review harvest data from previous years and make updates according to factors unique to this year. Or you might count ears in row feet and count kernels on representative ears to come up with an estimate.  But what if there was a more streamlined, data-driven way to predict yield? What impact would it make if you could periodically gain insight on what your numbers might be when harvest arrives? Ready to maximize your farm’s profit potential? Become an FBN® member today A data-driven approach to yield prediction Available exclusively to FBN members, our Yield Prediction tool conveniently delivers in-season updates every sixth day in the My Operation tab of the FBN app on your desktop or mobile phone.  These estimates are derived from a variety of factors, including: location field yield history regional yield history weather data  satellite imagery agronomic data—including variety planted, soil type and planting date The more data you contribute from your farm, the more informed your estimates will be. Our tool also aggregates these yield predictions, showing you state and national averages. Access to this level of insight can help you make in-season application decisions and inform your seed selection game plan for the next crop year. Plus, we’re rolling out some exciting new updates this year: App Integration Now the Yield Prediction tool is fully integrated into the FBN app—both mobile and desktop versions—putting the data right at your fingertips. And, of course, you can still access yield predictions in the My Reports section of your account. Diversified Crops We’ve expanded the crops covered by Yield Prediction; in addition to corn and soybeans, now you can get in-season yield estimates for your canola and wheat crops as well. More Data for More Members With the addition of these new crops and increased data contribution across the network, Canadian farmers will now enjoy more robust functionality of the Yield Prediction tool within the FBN app. To utilize FBN Yield Potential, simply add a planting event to the My Operation tab in your member account and our tool will analyze available data to show you your predicted yield for that field. Become a member today Join a global network of farmers — 30,000+ strong and growing — who are already taking advantage of the opportunity to reduce their cost of production and maximize the value of their crops. Become an FBN member today . Yield predictions are based on statistical and agronomic models, research and data (including historical weather and agronomic data), and information provided by other FBN members and you, to generate the estimates and other information we provide. These do not guarantee actual results. Our models, data and recommendations may change over time. Individual results may vary, as weather, agronomic conditions and farming practices differ across growers, locations and years. Consult your agronomist and other service professionals before making financial, risk management and farming decisions. Invigor® and LibertyLink® are registered trademarks of BASF Canada, Inc. © 2015-2021 Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. All rights reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, “FBN”, “FBN Direct”, “Farmers First” and the Farmers First flag logo are registered service marks and “F2F Genetics Network” is a trademark of Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. or its affiliates and are used with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.