More Flights of Black Cutworm Moths Have Arrived in Southeastern Pennsylvania

May 16, 2022

Black cutworm moths continue to arrive in southeastern Pennsylvania, but in the rest of the state our traps have yielded relatively few individuals. Penn State's Black Cutworm Monitoring Network has now detected five "significant flights" of moths (9 moths over two nights)—two in Lancaster County (near Manheim and Landisville) and three in Lebanon County (near Fredericksburg, Cornwall, and Bellegrove). See last week's article for an overview of the damage potential from black cutworm caterpillars to corn and our recommended strategy for control. We will update you weekly on the status of accumulated degree days at these sites and if others emerge, and keep you informed of when the risk of cutting damage to corn plants approaches (Table 1). See our fact sheet on black cutworm for more details.

Table 1. Significant flights of black cutworm moths detected in Pennsylvania in 2022, and accumulated degree days since trapping.

County	Nearest town	Date significant flight detected	Accumulated degree days*
Lancaster	Landisville	11 April	157
Lancaster	Manheim	1 May	69
Lebanon	Bellegrove	1 May	65
Lebanon	Cornwall	1 May	61
Lebanon	Fredericksburg	11 April	110

^*As of 12 May 2022

Source : psu.edu

Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.

The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.

Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.

In This Video:

Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen

Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials

Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows

Fertilizer placement and application methods

Differences in plant height and node counts

Potential effects on pod development and yield