Midwest US Farmers Face Early Pest Alerts for Corn and Beans

Corn leaf aphids have appeared unusually early across Indiana and the broader Midwest, prompting some growers to consider aerial insecticide sprays. Purdue University entomology professor Christian Krupke cautions that most infestations are small and occur after the critical pollination window, advising farmers to hold off on treatments and assess economic thresholds before mixing insecticides with late‑season fungicides.

In the Nebraska Panhandle and southwestern counties, western bean cutworm moth flights are high, leading extension entomologists to recommend intensive scouting of corn and dry beans. Thresholds are outlined for trap catches, and timely insecticide applications are advised only when populations exceed those levels. Both alerts emphasize targeted scouting and restraint to avoid unnecessary chemical use.