OMAFRA's Tracey Baute says the best time to scout for wireworms and grubs in the spring is from now until late May.
She points out pest assessment report completed this spring can be used for this fall's seed order.
New provincial regulations will require a completed pest assessment for every 100 acre or less area under one municipal roll number to justify the purchase of neonic treated seeds.
Baute feels it's a great time to scout for wireworms and grubs now because soil temperatures have reached 10 degrees celsius.
Too warm and dry and the baits won't work as well and the pests may have moved down deeper in the soil.
She recommends baits or digging in 5 areas of every 100 acre or less plot, focusing on the higher risk areas of the fields.
High risk areas include sandy or silty areas, especially knolls - areas where grassy weeds are prevalent - or areas where gaps in the stand have been noticed in the past.
Baute says the threshold to buy and use neonic treated corn or soybean seed is an average of 1 wireworm or 2 grubs averaged over 5 scouting locations.
