07/16/2026
Crop Pest Traps Mid-Summer Update 🌱☀️
Columbia County Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD) staff have been working with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to monitor a few different crop pests as part of the Crop Pest Trap Network. This network includes cooperators and monitoring sites from all over the state. In March, traps were set at 5 different locations across Columbia County for Black Cutworm and True Armyworm. Additional traps set in Columbia County are being monitored by other cooperators and farmers. Traps are checked weekly and data collected is used to forecast optimal scouting and treatment windows for these economically important pests.
In mid-June, the Black Cutworm traps were taken down and replaced with Western Bean Cutworm traps. Monitoring will continue throughout the summer, and the True Armyworm traps will be replaced with Fall Armyworm traps at the end of July. We also had a local producer join the network to monitor corn earworm in his sweet corn fields.
Importance of Monitoring Pests
The continuous monitoring of these pests is crucial for several reasons:
• Economic Impact: Effective pest management helps reduce crop losses and maintain economic stability for farmers.
• Timely Interventions: Data-driven insights allow for precise timing of pest control measures, which enhances their effectiveness.
• Sustainable Practices: Monitoring helps in adopting integrated pest management practices that minimize environmental impact.
For more detailed information, survey data, and reports, visit the DATCP website at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/TrapNetworks.aspx
