DIGITAL TOOL HELPS MANAGE INSECTS

July 23, 2018

Mike Sandstrom created insectforecast.com back in 2006, when universities, extensions and private processing companies expressed interest in an insect risk management tool. The online resource provides growers in major crop production regions with pertinent insect migration data.

“We do a forecast for five different insects, which include: black cutworm, soybean aphids, corn rootworm, corn earworm and western bean cutworm,” Sandstrom said. “We use different meteorological that help us in making our forecasts. We can get very specific to a certain area, so we can tell if growers in the northern part of Iowa are going to have a different problem than the southern part of the state, and different times of the year as well. It’s really good because growers can get out in their fields and scout based on the forecast.”

Insectforecast.com is updated daily, during peak season. Sandstrom says current map readings suggest Iowa growers are at risk for a couple different infestations.

Click here to read the full article from Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.

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