By Blake Jackson
The 2024 University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, set for Dec. 4-5 at the Columbia Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, will offer valuable insights into crop challenges, including a new corn-damaging insect found in Missouri.
Ivair Valmorbida, a crops entomologist with MU Extension, will present findings on corn leafhoppers, small tan or yellow insects identified in Missouri cornfields for the first time in 2024. These insects feed on corn leaves and spread pathogens that cause corn stunt disease, which leads to reduced yields due to deformed grain, loose kernels, and short stalks.
Corn leafhoppers are highly mobile, moving quickly within and between fields by flying or jumping when disturbed. They tend to gather in shaded areas, often hiding in the whorls of young plants or beneath leaves. These pests reproduce exclusively in corn and related plants.
First discovered in southwestern Missouri, experts believe corn leafhoppers may be more widespread across the state than initially observed. At the conference, Valmorbida will discuss how to identify these pests, strategies to scout for them, and cultural practices that may help limit their spread.
For more details or to register, visit the event website or contact the organizers for assistance.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dszc
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Corn