Spraying for Western Bean Cutworm​​​

Channel Seedsman Matt Hasenauer, from North Platte, Nebraska, explains when the best time to spray for Western Bean Cutworm is. 

• When egg masses begin to turn a purplish blue color, that means they will hatch in the next 24 to 48 hours.
• The best time to spray is right after they hatch

How do you determine the best time to spray for western bean cutworm?

It's somewhat of a tricky process because the egg masses being in that upper third of the plant, they're not easily to see. If you get 8%,10% egg masses in plants, and when they start to turn kind of a purplish blue color, they're gonna hatch within the next 24 to 48 hours, and the best time to spray is right after they hatch. And so it's important that you stay on top of it. And, once again, I think that's where you can bring a lot of benefits to growers, is being out in that field scouting, giving them an idea, "Hey, the majority of them are going to hatch in the next 24 to 48 hours, you need to get on this. Either you can have an airplane apply or if you're going to go through the pivot, you better get ready to do it."