Armyworms on the march in many areas

When conditions are favorable, fall armyworms can cause pastures and newly emerged wheat stands to disappear almost overnight, according to Texas AgriLife Extension entomologists. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns) COLLEGE STATION – Most of the state received some rain the last week with accumulations ranging from 0.5 inch or less in the west to 2-4 inches in East Texas and the Coastal Bend, according to the National Weather Service.

A few areas received as much as 8 inches, according to the service.

Encouraged by raised soil-moisture levels, producers were planting small grains where field conditions allowed, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

The cool, wet weather also encouraged armyworms to be on the move in many parts of the state.

“We had a few reports of armyworms, which have been isolated so far, but I think we’ve got the potential for a really good outbreak,” said Steven Sparkman, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Hardeman County, near Vernon.

The potential arises partially from weather conditions, Sparkman said.

For reasons unknown, cool, wet fall weather following a dry period is conducive to large outbreaks of armyworms. Emerging wheat is a particularly tempting target for armyworms, Sparkman said.

However, outbreaks can be limited if host plants and weeds are killed a couple of weeks prior to wheat planting. This year, many producers broke that rule, he said.

“We’ve got wheat that’s already up, and a lot of it was sown into unclean ground,” he said. “They came in and sprayed and immediately sowed it.”

In a year with normal weather patterns, most Hardeman County producers would have probably waited. But the last few falls have been uncommonly dry, and producers wanted to take advantage of moisture while they had it.

“The fear of dry weather was greater than the fear of armyworms,” Sparkman said.

Young armyworm larvae don’t eat very much, and an early infestation of a pasture or hay field can go undetected, said Dr. Allen Knutson, AgriLife Extension entomologist based at Dallas. But once they grow to about ¾-inch long, their appetites greatly increase and pastures or new wheat stands can disappear almost overnight.

There are chemical controls for armyworms, but most of his producers will probably elect not to use them, Sparkman noted.

"Our problem with control is our current economic situation. Wheat prices are at $3.60, which is terrible,” Sparkman said.

Because of low wheat prices, more producers will be growing wheat for grazing, not for grain, he said. Most of his area farmers lease out their wheat for grazing and get paid based on how much the cattle gain, he said.

“It’s strictly a financial deal," he said. "The rate of gain they get paid for is not that great. It’s harder to borrow money than it used to be, and they’re not able to buy the cattle and put them out themselves. So they’re not going to be able to spend a lot of money controlling them.”

AgriLife Extension agents in Baylor, Jack, Wise, Bell, Falls, Hill, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Camp, Nacogdoches, Titus, Upshur, Wood, Polk, Robertson and Burleson counties also reported armyworm outbreaks in pastures and hay fields.