This research has been conducted by Leasa D. Wilkerson in partial
fulfillment of the requirements
for a M.S. degree in Agriculture Education at West Virginia University.
(2002)
Summary
The purpose of this study was to provide information to the WVU Extension personnel and researchers that may be useful in developing and designing educational programs concerning pest management practices, insect, fungal, and weed problems, and educational needs so that instructional material can be designed to meet clientele needs. The objectives of this study were:
1. To determine current pest management practices used in corn production by West
Virginia farmers.
2. To determine the major sources of pest management information used by West Virginia
corn growers.
3. To determine instructional needs of West Virginia corn growers. Data were collected via
33% of thel 00 surveys mailed to outstanding corn growers in West Virginia during 1999
crop season for a 33% response rate. Packets of 10 surveys were sent to Agriculture
Extension agents in the top ten corn-growing counties. These agents in turn chose ten
outstanding growers in their county; the surveys were then mailed to these corn growers.
Thirty-three useable surveys were returned and provided data for the study.
The survey form consisted of four parts. Part one of the survey inquired about pest problems (crop diseases, weeds, insect/mites, and vertebrates). Part two requested respondents to indicate the intensity of various control measures (chemical, cultural and biological) used during the past season. Part three inquired about the sources of information farmers use to assist in managing pest problems. Finally, part four-requested acreage of corn grown and county where corn is farmed. A cover letter explained the purpose of the study and gave directions for completing and returning the questionnaire. The researcher and committee chairman signed the cover letter. A self-addressed stamped envelope was included to help encourage the prompt return of the instrument.
Characteristics of the 33 respondents were as follows. Fifty-four percent of the growers had acreage of 259 acres or more, 18% of the growers had acreages of 60 to 96 acres, and 27% of growers had 34 acres or less.
Growers were asked to rate their perceived severity of injury caused by crop diseases. Participants were encouraged to rate all diseases that applied. Gray leaf spot, maize virus, stalk rot, leaf blight, and northern corn leaf blight were the diseases indicated by growers to cause moderate to severe damage in the 1999 growing season.
Participants were asked to rate their perceived severity of injury caused by weed pests. Among all weeds listed three weeds stood out with more than half of the respondents indicating severe or moderate injury. These weeds were johnson grass, pigweed, and fall panicum.
Similarly participants were asked to rate perceived injury caused by insect pests and mites for corn. Lepidopteron and coleopteran pests appear to be the major groups of insect pests of corn in West Virginia. Arthropods which were noted as causing severe or moderate injury were cutworms, european corn borer, army worms, slugs, wireworms, common stalk borer, corn root worm, and corn earworm.
In this study, corn growers were also asked to rate the perceived injury caused by vertebrate pests. Deer were perceived as the most severe pest of corn with 82% of the respondents rating deer damage as moderate or severe. Birds and raccoons were rated 46% and 43%, respectively.
Participants were asked to rate control measures used in the 1999 corn- growing season. The most common control measures were applications of herbicide to control weeds, field inspection, and selection of varieties resistant to insect and diseases.
Participants were asked to indicate where they obtained their information to make decisions on pest management for corn. Agricultural chemical dealers/representatives, farm magazines, pesticide update training, county extension agent/office, and other growers were the six sources that received moderate or higher use ratings as information sources.
More than 25% of the growers indicated need for additional information concerning transgenic corn varieties, ground covers for enhancing beneficial insects, biological control agents, and field inspection techniques.
Conclusions
Based on West Virginia data obtained through this study the following conclusions were reached: -
1. The most severe losses in corn due to diseases result from maize virus, gray leaf
spot, stalk rot, leaf blight and northern corn leaf blight.
2. Weed pests causing the greatest injury to corn are johnson grass, pigweed and fall
panicum.
3. Insect and mite pests causing the greatest damage to corn are european corn borer,
common stalk borer, corn rootworm, slugs, armyworms and corn earworm.
4. Deer are, by far, the most injurious vertebrate pest of corn in West Virginia. Birds
and raccoons also cause considerable damage.
5. Pest control measures most often used by West Virginia corn growers are herbicide
applications field inspections and selection of varieties resistant to insects and
diseases.
6. West Virginia corn growers receive information regarding pest problems and control
measures from a number of sources including Agriculture chemical dealers/representatives,
farm magazines, pesticide update training, extension agents, other growers, workshops, and
university specialists.
7. Corn growers would like to receive additional information regarding transgenic
varieties, ground covers that enhance beneficial insect population, biological control
agents, field inspection procedures, temperature based models, and variety selection.
Recommendations
1. Results of this survey should be made available to West Virginia
University researchers and extension specialists.
2. Best Management Practices (BMP) should be developed for corn production in West
Virginia and made available to producers through workshops, printed materials and the
internet.
3. it should be determined if additional research is needed to develop control measures
for insect, weed, disease and vertebrate pests causing severe damage to corn grown in the
state.
