Recent rainfall brought some much-needed moisture to many parts of Iowa, but totals varied widely. Unfortunately, some of the recent rainfall events also resulted in localized flooding and some storm damage. Common challenges or issues reported by ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomists across the state include weed pressure, herbicide injury, black cutworms, white grubs, and thistle caterpillars. Read on for more specific updates on what’s happening in fields across the state.

If you have been out in the field checking stand or doing early-season scouting for weeds, diseases, and insects, you might be noticing that insect activity is picking up across the state. We are approximately 200 growing degree days ahead of schedule this spring, which means insect development is happening quickly for insects that overwintered or arrived here with strong storm systems.

The trapping season for black cutworm has come to an end. We appreciate our cooperators for tirelessly checking traps the last two months and reporting their captures so we can provide the most accurate scouting information for these pests. To recap, we had 15 volunteers participate from 18 counties in Iowa. A total of 22 black cutworm traps were placed and monitored during April and May.