Corn is produced in every one of Kentucky’s 120 counties with western Kentucky having the most corn-producing acreage in the state.  Corn production in 2016 was estimated at 223 million bushels with a yield of 159 bu/acre and area harvested for grain is estimated at 86.7 million acres (www.kyagr.com).  A report from July 1, 2019 showed that Kentucky’s 2019 corn planting at 1.65 million acres was up 23% from 2018.  This was the greatest number of acres planted in corn since 2012 (www.kycorn.org).  In 2022, farmers intended to plant 1.55 million acres of corn which is unchanged from 2021 (USDA NASS). As such a valuable commodity, it is important to safeguard this industry from potentially damaging pests by conducting surveys that will allow for early detection and eradication.  

We will survey 16 corn fields using traps and lures that target four insect pests:  Old World Bollworm, Silver-Y Moth, False Codling Moth, and Small Brown Planthopper.  The traps will be in the corn fields from May to September.