Oats

Elevated Corn Rootworm Pressure Projected For The Midwest

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:53:22 GMT

The “billion-dollar bug” is sharpening its teeth for 2026. Bayer CropScience reports corn rootworm pressure could be significant this year across major corn growing areas.

Based on 2025 beetle capture data from 555 monitored fields, the company projects medium to high rootworm pressure for the upcoming growing season in much of the Midwest:

31% of the corn fields sampled in 2025 had counts exceeding the economic threshold of 2 beetles/trap/day, which was 2% higher than 2024 fields (29%), 22% less than 2023 and 2022 fields (53%), and 7% less than 2021 fields (38%).
46% of the continuous corn fields sampled in 2025 were above the economic threshold, which was up 3% from 2024 (43%), down 25% from 2023 (71%), down 28% from 2022 (74%), and down 6% from 2021 (52%).
17% of the first-year corn fields in 2025 were above the economic threshold, which was 1% higher than 2024 (16%), 3% higher than 2023 (14%), up 7% from 2022 (10%), and equal to 2021 (17%).

On a broad scale, Bayer reports that rootworm larval populations — and consequently the risk potential from all CRW species this season — are likely to be elevated in fields in northern Illinois, south central Illinois, western Iowa, eastern, southeastern, and southwestern Nebraska, eastern and southeastern Wisconsin, and northern Colorado. Read the full report here .

Rootworm larvae feeding on corn roots compromise the plants’ structural integrity and can slice yields in affected fields by as much as 45%.

2026 corn rootworm pressure forecast based on 2025 beetle capture in 555 fields in CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI, and PA.

(Maps: Bayer, Beetle Monitoring Project from 2024 and 2025)

How Two CRW Variants Beat The Corn-Soybean Rotation

“CRW beetles are very, very adaptable to many of the things that we throw at them,” says Ashley Dean, Iowa State University Extension field crop entomologist.

She says CRW is forcing many row-crop growers to rewrite their management playbooks to address the pest better, especially variant populations.

Dean reports that the “variant” label describes two distinct genetic adaptations of corn rootworm:

Northern Corn Rootworm (Extended Diapause): These small green beetles have learned to hit the “snooze” button. Instead of hatching the following spring, their eggs remain dormant in the soil for two or more years—sometimes up to five. This allows larvae to emerge exactly when a field rotates back to corn.
Western Corn Rootworm (The Soybean Variant): These yellow-and-black striped beetles have developed a behavioral shift. Instead of staying in cornfields to lay eggs, females migrate to soybean fields to deposit them. When that field is planted to corn the next season, the larvae are already waiting in the soil. “These variants have essentially lost their fidelity to corn when they’re laying eggs,” Dean notes in a webinar.

These maps give approximate locations for western and northern corn rootworm variants.

(Iowa State University Extension)

A Multi-Pronged Management Strategy

Addressing corn rootworm effectively requires farmers use a localized, field-by-field strategy, says Jim Robinson, chief technology officer for Rob-See-Co. Because geography, soil, and history vary, growers should work with agronomists to tailor traits and stewardship practices to their specific acres rather than relying solely on regional forecasts, he advises.

Here are four additional recommendations Extension and industry advise farmers use in areas with expected high populations of CRW this season:

Make Root Scouting Non-Negotiable: Dig and rate roots in every field—continuous or rotated—to understand your baseline pressure. For assessing damage, use the interactive node-injury scale from Iowa State available here .
Consider Longer Rotations: In areas with heavy Northern corn rootworm extended diapause, adding a third crop like oats can break the cycle, Dean says.
Strategic Use of Bt and Insecticides: While Western corn rootworm has shown resistance to all four Bt traits in some areas, these tools still have a place. However, Iowa State suggests choosing either a Bt hybrid or a soil-applied insecticide rather than using both as “insurance” unless pressure is extreme.

To help farmers make informed decisions, Chris DiFonzo, professor & field crops entomologist at Michigan State University, provides the Handy Bt Trait Table for U.S. Corn Production , a valuable resource that outlines available Bt traits, their targets, and other key information.

Leave a Check Strip: When testing a new transgenic hybrid or insecticide in first-year corn, leave an untreated strip. This is the only way to verify if the treatment provided a return on investment.

Research to Results: Salin 247 Robot Advances Iowa Corn Strip Cropping Knowledge

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 20:10:50 GMT

A former Corteva Agriscience research scientist and the CEO and founder of Salin 247, an ag tech startup focused on autonomous planting and spraying equipment for corn and soybeans, have joined forces in Iowa to advance research on strip cropping corn and cover crops.

Using Salin 247’s four row, autonomous planting robot, Bob Gunzenhauser is planting strip crop test plots in a field near Corydon to evaluate the practice and collect data on its potential to boost corn yields.

The concept is rather interesting, especially if you’re farming corn and raising livestock: corn is planted in strips at two different seeding rates with cover crops interseeded in opposite strips, and then the plan is to push fertility via in-season nitrogen application at V4-V6 with drop nozzles.

In a real world scenario, a farmer could harvest the corn and leave the cover crops and corn stalks behind to graze livestock on. Soil health would be one ancillary benefit, as would reduced compaction via the lightweight, battery-powered robotic planter.

Here are some videos of the Salin 247 robotic planter Gunzenhauser shared:

Small plots with varying seeding rates and shut offs for alleyways built in thru the prescription, cruising along at 2 MPH. @ptx_trimble pic.twitter.com/emAgf7T0WE
— Bob Gunzenhauser (@BobGunzy) April 16, 2025

Salin247 autonomous running a test plot outside of Corydon, IA today. Including corn/cover strips and Nitrogen x Seeding Rate small plots. @jasonmauck1 @zebulousprime @PfanstielJunior pic.twitter.com/MdWLY4eR9w
— Bob Gunzenhauser (@BobGunzy) April 16, 2025

Gunzenhauser says the trial will also variable rate apply zero to 240 lb. of nitrogen per acre and three different seeding rates to demonstrate the Salin 247 autonomous planting technology and how it can enable small plot research. The data will also be used to build economic, optimum nitrogen rate response data for south-central Iowa farmers, he adds.

“Mainly I think Bob is doing this to get the data and to show the value of strip cropping, which is increasing corn yield because of the sunlight effect,” says Dave Krog, CEO and founder, Salin 247. “There’s data out there that shows generally the outside two rows of a corn strip benefit from extra sunlight, but we want to advance this research.”

In 2023, Salin 247 commissioned a similar experiment on its own test plots, and the total average yield on the check rows came in at 235 bu. per acre. The corn strips ended up yielding just over 300 bu. per acre, and Krog says August was very dry that year, so theoretically the plot could have had higher yields if it were irrigated.

(@BobGunzy/X.com)

Gunzenhauser also invited some students from the local Mormon Trail high school ag program, he has a connection with the student’s teacher, to show them how applied research is conducted in field trials. He is also hoping to enlist their help in harvesting the small plots this fall.

While a small, robotic Salin 247 planter was showcased in planting this trial, Krog says his system has applications beyond small plot seed sowing.

“Strip cropping is just one example of something unique you can do with small, autonomous equipment,” he says. “Our platform, we’ve built a small, autonomous toolbar. We can take the planter off and put a liquid or dry system on, we have a cultivator for the organic guys, and we’re working with Yetter on a strip-till pressure study.”

Gunzenhauser and Krog will lean on the local cooperative to deliver some mid-season sprays for the plots, and then return in the fall with the high school students to harvest the plots and calculate the yields. He says he plans to keep us updated on the results.

Your Next Read: Elevate Your Corn Planting Game Instantly With 7 Proven Tips

Time Is Running Out, But Boozman Says Passing Emergency Relief for Farmers Is a Priority

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:41:00 GMT

It’s a dire situation in farm country, according to Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee. Just this week, he was on Capitol Hill urging legislators to help producers offset some of their losses with emergency relief .

“It’s clear the pain our farm families are living through,” Boozman said on the Senate floor . “For some producers, this is the second or third consecutive year of negative cash flow. This means many farm families are ending 2024 in the red, unable to pay off this year’s operating loan, unable to get the loan to farm in 2025 and facing the reality of being the generation to have lost the family farm due to extreme market conditions beyond their control.”

Lower commodity prices and increases in input costs are creating tight margins for row crop producers. Without a new farm bill this year, Boozman is exploring ways to provide 2024 economic assistance and certainty for 2025 through an improved farm safety net.

“We simply have to come up with a package that helps [farmers] get through this year,” Boozman said. “The last two years, as I mentioned earlier, were the worst ever as far as decrease in income. Going forward, if we don’t modernize the farm bill, if we don’t get risk management tools adjusted for inflation, then bankers aren’t going to have certainty [farmers’] risks are going to lessen, and it’s going to be difficult for a lot of farmers to get the financing they need.”

Whether it’s ag lenders, economists or farmers, Boozman said everyone is saying: It’s a dire picture in farm country and help is needed.

FARM Act

Another possible way for farmers to see some economic relief is through the Farm Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act. The bill was authored by Rep. Trent Kelly (R-Miss.) on the House Ag Committee. It would offer payment assistance to eligible farmers.

Congress is in session through Dec. 20, so Boozman and others are working diligently to secure enough support and votes to pass the FARM Act. While it’s unclear how Congress will push through the FARM Act, it’s likely going to be via the Continuing Resolution (CR).

“We’re working literally as we speak to get the language together and to get agreement from both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, to move forward,” Boozman said. “I can’t tell you for sure it’s going to get passed, but I understand how important it is as far as where it would be attached, which is probably to the continuing resolution.”

What payment might farmers receive through the FARM Act? According to one economist, the current payment calculation is: (USDA’s Projected Cost of the Crop – National Projected Returns) x Eligible Acres x 60% = Total Payment.

When you take into consideration the new WASDE prices and cost of production released each month, here’s how those payments could look per acre:

Corn: $101
Soybeans: $53
Wheat: $73
Cotton: $195
Rice: $84
Sorghum: $97
Oats: $177
Barley: $0

It’s important to note these payment estimates could change with the updated WASDE report next week. One economist told Farm Journal the 60% figure is a moving target that’s currently being debated on the Hill.

Steep Losses for 2024
The Senate Ag Committee recently released 2024 total farm income losses at $29.3 billion. At the top was corn, with losses of $11.59 billion, followed by soybeans and then wheat. However, almost every crop is facing steep financial challenges, including sorghum, oats, rice and peanuts.

Sen. Boozman (R-Ark.)

Now the question is, will the proposed relief in the FARM Act be enough to help stop the bleeding on row crop farms? Boozman hopes so.

“I understand how difficult it is — and for ag, I can’t imagine not describing it as a recession. When you look at the numbers recorded by USDA, I think they’re actually undervalued. We simply have to come up with a package that helps [farmers] get through this year,” Boozman said. “It’s not only what economists are telling us, it’s not only farmers and landowners — it’s all lenders and everyone involved in agriculture painting a very dire picture.”

As farm-focused senators are working to get the FARM Act passed, Boozman said the proposed legislation is facing some unexpected challenges, specifically in regard to cost.

“It’s just going to cost some money to get it done, and we’re working really hard to explain the need for that,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what [the FARM Act] will look like in the end, but we’ve got a lot of good people working on it. Senator Hoeven is working really hard on the Senate side. A lot is going to go through the Appropriations Committee in the Senate, and I’m on that committee as well as several others. Cindy Hyde-Smith has been active, John Thune and all of the people on the ag committee have done a great job of trying to come up with a package that will be enough to make a real difference for people to get through this year.”

Looking Ahead

Boozman recently met with Brooke Rollins, president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Agriculture. It was his first meeting with her, and he said he was very pleased, saying: “She’s very close to the president, which is so important in these cabinet positions that she’s got his ear...I’m looking forward to getting her confirmed as quickly as possible and working with her in the future.”

What will Rollins’ priorities be if she’s confirmed once Trump is sworn into office? And will he support Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services? Watch the full conversation here.

Your Next Read: Everything Farmers Need to Know About The FARM Act in Congress