Volunteer Corn Means More CRW Vigilance Needed

Volunteer corn, a pesky weed, is more than just a sign your herbicide program for soybeans could use some work. This year, volunteer corn could be harboring an ongoing corn rootworm (CRW) population. CRW eggs can overwinter in those volunteer stands and exacerbate CRW pest damage in 2023 fields.

In short, producers implementing crop rotations to mitigate CRW could find themselves in the same CRW-ridden fields they were trying to avoid. For farmers dealing with ample volunteer corn this year, it’s important to scout your fields as you harvest. Note the location of any volunteer corn, particularly if that field had CRW in 2021. Take note when selecting next year’s hybrids for planting or consider soil-applied insecticide at planting.

Read more on volunteer corn and CRW management here.