Feb 15

Posted by: WCM Staff
2/15/2007 1:00 AM 

Learn More About Western Bean Cutworm in Corn --Distance Education Course, Wednesday February 28th 2007

Eileen Cullen, Extension Entomologist

In the January 2007 issue, Volume 14(1), of the Wisconsin Crop Manager newsletter, I updated readers that a western bean cutworm workshop will be presented Wednesday February 28th via distance education technology http://ipcm.wisc.edu/WCMNews/tabid/53/EntryID/203/Default.aspx

I posted 11 UW-Extension County offices currently offering this upcoming program http://ipcm.wisc.edu/WCMNews/tabid/53/EntryID/204/Default.aspx

Following is another reminder, with information for farmers, consultants and others to contact a host site and reserve space to learn more about Western Bean Cutworm in corn.  February 28^th is the first of two exciting workshop events in field crop insect pest management, (See companion article in this issue for details on the March 6^th Soybean Aphid Biological Control Workshop). It is not too late to sign up to host or attend either course.

Western Bean Cutworm Short Course A Distance Education Short Course - Wednesday February 28th, 2007, 9:00 a.m-12:00 noon (CST)

Western bean cutworm injury to corn ear, DeKalb County, Illinois, 2006 (photo courtesy of Randy Espe, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.).

Western bean cutworm larva (photo courtesy of Jim Donnelly, Ag View FS, Inc.).

Until 2000, the western bean cutworm occurred no farther east than western Iowa. From 2000 through 2006, the range of this corn ear-attacking pest expanded rapidly to the east. From 2000 through 2004, western bean cutworms were found farther east in Iowa annually. Moths were found in pheromone traps for the first time in Illinois and Missouri in 2004.

In 2005 and 2006, an extensive pheromone trap network coordinated by specialists at Iowa State University provided ample evidence that the range of the western bean cutworm had expanded as far east as Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Reports of significant damage caused by western bean cutworms to corn ears have been common in Iowa for a few years, and noticeable injury was documented in some areas of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in 2006. As the distribution of the western bean cutworm continues to expand and the insect becomes an established pest in new areas, corn growers will have to include this pest in their corn insect management plans.

So, what is known about this pest, and what do we need to know? On February 28th, 2007, entomologists from Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin will present a short course focused on western bean cutworms. The short course will be delivered via distance education technology to sites in at least four states.

The content of the program will be:

8:30 – 9:00 AM –   Check in

9:00 – 9:30 AM –  Review of Situation 2000 – 2006 Iowa, Illinois Wisconsin, elsewhere

                        Dr. Marlin Rice, Iowa State
                        Dr. Kevin Steffey, University of Illinois
                        Dr. Eileen Cullen, University of Wisconsin

 9:30 – 10:00 AM – History and Biology of the Western Bean Cutworm

                         Dr. Gary Hein, University of Nebraska (tentative)

10:00 – 10:15 AM – Break

10:15 – 10:45 AM – Look Alikes – Moths and Larvae…
                                 How to Differentiate WBC Moths and   Larvae From Look-Alikes

                         Dr. Marlin Rice, Iowa State

10:45 – 11:00 AM – Discussion of Economic Impact

                         All Speakers

11:00 – Noon – Managing Western Bean Cutworms – Trapping, Degree Days, Scouting, 
                         Making Management Decisions and Options for Control

                         All Speakers

A question-and-answer session will conclude the program, which is being sponsored by the North Central IPM Center.

The program is being designed for delivery to local or regional Extension offices (contact the office in your area for information) or to businesses or educational organizations that choose to host the programs. Registration for both this western bean cutworm workshop on February 28^th; and a March 6th program on soybean aphid biological control (see companion article this issue) is open at the North Central IPM Web site http://ncipm.org/teleconference/

Requirements for host sites for both of these short courses are a telephone line and a method of viewing PowerPoint slides. For groups, a teleconference device for audio and a way of projecting the PowerPoint slides are recommended. Access to the Internet is not necessary during delivery of either program. However, site coordinators will have to download the PowerPoint presentations in advance to have the files ready on the dates of the respective programs.

We are excited about being able to bring these types of programs to you, and we invite all interested parties to consider hosting a site. If you have any questions about the short course, please contact Eileen Cullen at (608) 261-1507 or cullen@entomology.wisc.edu

Wisconsin Host Sites for the February 28^th Western Bean Cutworm Workshop, Please contact Host Agent directly to reserve your space. 

2.5 Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Units applied for.

UW-Extension Clark County Nick Schneider Clark County Crops and Soils Agent Location: 517 Court St. Room 104 Neillsville, WI 54456 Call 715-743-5121 to confirm attendance or email nick.schneider@ces.uwex.edu	UW-Extension Dane County David Fischer Dane County Crops and Soils Agent Location: West Madison Research Station 8502 Mineral Point Rd. Verona, WI 53593 Call 608-224-3716 to register or email david.fischer@ces.uwex.edu
UW-Extension Dodge County Matt Hanson Dodge County Crops and Soils Agent Location: Dodge County Administration Building, rooms H and I 127 E. Oak St. Juneau, WI 53039 Call 920-386-3790 to register or email matt.hanson@ces.uwex.edu	UW-Extension Fond du Lac County Mike Rankin Fond du Lac County Crops and Soils Agent Location: UW- Fond du Lac Rm. 242 Admin/Extension Bldg. 400 University Dr. Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Call 920-929-3171 to register or email michael.rankin@ces.uwex.edu
UW-Extension Grant County Ted Bay Grant County Crops/Farm Management Agent Location: Youth & Ag Center 916 E. Elm Street Lancaster, WI  53813 Call 608-723-2125 to register or email ted.bay@ces.uwex.edu	UW-Extension Green Lake County Carla Heiman Green Lake County Agriculture Agent Location: Green Lake County Courthouse 492 Hill St. Green Lake, WI 54941 Call 920-294-4032 to register or email carla.heiman@ces.uwex.edu
UW-Extension Monroe County Bill Halfman Monroe County Agriculture Agent Location: Monroe County Farm Building Complex Human Services Building, Room 409 14301 County Hwy B, WI Call 608-269-8722 to register or email bill.halfman@ces.uwex.edu	UW-Extension Outagamie County Kevin Jarek Outagamie County Agriculture Agent Location: 2265 W. Brewster St. Appleton, WI 54914 Call 920-832-5121 to register or email kevin.jarek@ces.uwex.edu

UW-Extension Portage County Ken Schroeder Portage County Agriculture Agent Location: Portage County Courthouse Annex 1462 Strongs Ave. Steven’s Point, WI 54481 Call 715-346-1316 to register or email ken.schroeder@ces.uwex.edu

UW-Extension Shawano County Tom Anderson Shawano County, Agricultural Agent Location: Shawano County Courthouse, Room 4B 311 North Main St. Shawano, WI 54166 Call 715-526-6136 to register or email thomas.anderson@ces.uwex.edu

UW-Extension Walworth County Peg Reedy Walworth County Agriculture Agent Location: Extension office 100 W. Walworth St. Elkhorn, WI 53121 Call Peg at 262-741-4951 or Brian Smetana at 262-741-7903 to register or email peg.reedy@ces.uwex.edu

Tags: