Below are a few comments/observations for your consideration are we near the end of the growing season.

Corn – We’ve generally observed more corn borers in non-Bt corn this year. They had a comeback following a relatively mild winter. It might be a good idea to start your harvest first on infested fields to help reduce losses do to lodging and ear drop.

Cotton – Very few fields are late enough in maturity where further monitoring or management of insect pests is necessary. Even in the latest fields, insecticide applications after this week would be a dubious proposition. Based on average frost dates, the last effective bloom date in Tennessee is from August 10-15, and these latest bolls will have accumulated about 300-400 DD60s by Labor Day.

Soybean – Many full-season soybean fields are R6 or beyond and pretty much past the window when insect pests can cause much further damage. In contrast, many double-cropped soybean fields need close monitoring for the next several weeks. Stink bugs, loopers and other pests often concentrate in these green oases as other crops have matured. Second generation kudzu bug adults are being seen now. If things go as expected, these adults will not lay eggs. They will, however, move to greener fields and fill their bellies in preparation for overwintering. In the absence of many nymphs, and with the presence of the Beauveria fungus killing at least part of the population, I don’t think there will be a need to treat for these adults in the vast majority of the cases.