Identifying and Controlling Pests in Grain Fields

Grain fields are essential to preserve the food chain and agriculture economy. Yet, these are threatened by various types of pests, harming the grown crops and reducing their quality. Therefore, farmers must take proper actions to protect their crops by identifying pests and taking actions to control the pests.

 In this article, we will look at the methods for identifying and controlling pests from harming grain fields. If you find out the presence of pests in your grain field, get help from the local pest control services to protect your crops from getting damaged by pests. 

Knowing Common Pests In Grain Fields!

There are different types of pests that can create different challenges for farmers. While developing effective control strategies, it is important to understand some of the common pests that are seen in grain fields. 

1. Aphids 

They are small and have soft bodies, but they can create so much damage to the crops by sucking sap from plants, which leads to a decrease in product and health of plants. They also excrete a sweet, sticky substance that attracts mold and harmful fungi.

2. Armyworms 

They are caterpillars that cause damage by feeding on the leaves and stems of grain plants. As they come in groups, severe damage is caused to the fields. 

3. Cutworms

They cut down the young plants at the base, thereby causing damage to the farmers’ early growth of crops. As they come out and attack at night, they are difficult to detect and control.

4. Grasshoppers 

They can cause damage by consuming large amounts of leaves, flowers, and seed heads, harming the overall yield. They have great mobility, which allows them to spread quickly from field to field. 

5. Grain weevils 

They are mainly a problem when it comes to stored grains, but they also infest fields. They contaminate the grain by boring into the grains and laying their eggs there.

Identification Methods That Farmers Use: 

1. Visual Inspections 

Regularly looking around the field for any signs of pests by farmers is a very simple and effective method. Farmers identify by looking at the presence of damaged leaves, stems or grain heads, insects, or the presence of their larvae.

2. Using Traps

Identifying the type of pests present in the field and helping to monitor their population trapping has proven effective. Light traps and sticky traps are some of the commonly used to attract and capture pests.

3. Doing Sampling

Taking plant and soil samples reveals hidden pests. Like the presence of cutworm larvae, we also see the presence of fungal infections in plants that are not easily visible to the naked eye. 

Let Us Look At Control Strategies –

Once you have identified the type of pests, now it is time to act. Here are some methods that are used by several farmers: 

1. Cultural method of pest management 

This method is used to modify farming practices to control pest infestation and reduce the population. Methods like crop rotation, plantation of varieties of pest-resistant plants, and maintaining field hygiene.

2. Use of biological enemies 

A method that takes the help of the biological enemies of the present pests such as predators, pathogens, and parasites to control the population from growing and further damaging the field, for example, to control the growth of aphids, introducing ladybugs is seen as effective.

3. Use Of Chemicals 

A method of using pesticides to kill pests is the method that comes under chemical control. Although this method has proven effective in killing insects, it is important to use pesticides that do not harm the crops or that are used judiciously. To use it with a combination of different methods is advised for the protection of the environment.

4. Using mechanical Barriers

Physical barriers like traps and pest removal manually are used to control the damage. Like, row covers can help in avoiding the in young plants.

Contact Your Nearest Pest Control Today!

It is crucial to identify them early and take action to keep your grain field safe from unwanted pests. Get pest control services for your grain field to preserve it.