I would contact these people in central Florida who grow corn for the Zellwood corn festival. I bet they could help you. Good luck!
Bt. spray, pheromone traps, insecticides, benficial insects, etc may help but see if you can get help from local people perhaps ag. school.
I live in south Mississippi and have never had a successful fall corn crop. In this locale, if you don’t get your corn crop started in early to mid March (and pray for no frost), before the insect population gets going, you can just about forget it. The worms that attack spring crops usually start in the silk and work their way inside. Early and frequent spraying will help prevent that, but is not nearly as successful if you plant late.
You might have picked the wrong site to get help with this; this is “FreeRepublic” not “BugFreeCorn.com”
With that screen name no wonder your crops are plagued with worms. ;)
Marielito gusanos?
You need to contact your County Extension office (USDA Extention is probably how it would be listed in the phone book). Ask them WHERE you should go for advice.
You aren’t telling us if this is Sweetcorn or #2. And given that more and more Sweetcorn is white or Bi-colored, it is difficult for those of use who ‘know corn’ to be able to assist you given the information you’re providing.
Call the Extention Office,, they can guide you to the proper authority for your area.
Disclaimer: Not an expert but here are my thoughts:
Since it’s best to use as few chemicals as possible, you might consider before next planting diligently and seriously working and amending your soil. Start some compost piles. Start a worm farm (to make your own vermicompost—that stuff is simply awesome for the soil and your plants).
Also, have you looked into planting and occasionally spraying your crops with H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)? I’ve been reading about it recently and it sounds very interesting. Check it out.
Since a healthy plant is far more able to resist diseases and pests, making the soil conditions optimal for the plant’s healthy survival would be my number one priority.
If you had worms last year, be on the look out for locusts this year. Or maybe change your screen name and life style.
Cabbage and tomatoes are up, H2O2 seems to have worked!
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