| Western 
            corn rootwormsin first-year corn
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            [OCT. 
            6, 2003]  
            Logan County has 
            been on the fringe of an area that has seen damage from corn 
            rootworms on first-year corn following soybeans. What this means for Logan County is that some plants showed some 
            damage, but entire fields didn't meet the threshold for treatment. 
            Dr. Kevin Steffey has recommended insecticide use on first-year corn 
            for the past two growing seasons for Logan County fields, based on 
            data from the prior years. I'm sure this year will not change that 
            recommendation. Official root ratings by county are now published at
            
            http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/pest/articles/images/200323table1.html.  | 
        
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            In the comparison from 2002 to 
            2003, the average plant damage may have been less severe in 2003. 
            However, a much larger percentage of plants were damaged. Until corn 
            with rootworm resistance is accepted for sale to Europe, the most 
            popular strategy will continue to be the use of a planting-time soil 
            insecticide. The seed-applied materials continue to have high 
            interest, and the current U of I research regarding rootworm control 
            can be found at
            
            http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/pest/articles/images/200322table4.html.
 
            Logan County has continued to 
            be out of the mainstream in regard to Western corn rootworm damage 
            in first-year corn, but the "defenses are weakening." Producers need 
            to carefully weigh the information available for damage and 
            available remedies in order to make an informed decision about seed 
            and pesticide orders for the coming year.   
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this article]   
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            Commercial corn plot harvested The 
            Logan County Commercial Corn Plot was harvested on Friday. Complete 
            information is still being compiled, but yields ranged from the 170s 
            to over 225 bushels per acre. Moisture levels were between 15.3 
            percent and 18.2 percent. Thanks go to the cooperating companies, 
            Scott Wurth family, State Bank of Lincoln, Fort Trust Farms and 
            others involved in the plot this year. Watch this space for a 
            complete report of yield information for the 32 hybrids involved in 
            the plot this year.  
            [John
Fulton]  
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