IPM Checklist for Field Corn- Version 4

General (Points possible = 57)

1) What sources of information do you regularly use for pest management information?
Check all that apply.
______Neighbor Recommendations = 1 point
______Magazine or Newspaper articles = 1 point
______Sales related resources and websites = 2 points
______University or independent, research based resources and websites = 3 points

2) What sources of information do you regularly use when selecting corn hybrids for your farm:
Check all that apply.
______Advertisements = 0 point
______Price only = 0 point
______Past experience with hybrid. = 1 point
______Personal recommendations or testimonials from others = 1 point
______Price considering expected performance = 2 points
______Side by side, non-replicated comparisons. = 2 points
______Replicated hybrid trial results. = 4 points

3) Which one of the following best describes your nutrient management program?
Check only one.
______Nutrients are applied without information on soil test levels or use of crediting. = 0 points
______Nutrients are applied using soil test results from a state approved lab. = 3 points
______Nutrients are applied using soil test results from a state approved lab and follow
University of Wisconsin recommendations. = 6 points

4) What records do you regularly keep for individual farm fields?
Check all that apply.
______History of pest infestations (disease, insects and weeds) = 2 points
______Pesticides used and rates = 2 points
______Other pest control methods = 2 points
______Soil test levels = 2 points
______Yield = 2 points

5) How do you determine the cost of production for your corn production system?
Check only one.
_____I don’t know my exact costs. = 0 points
_____I know the cost of producing the total corn crop. = 5 points
_____I know the cost of production on a per acre or bushel basis. = 10 points

6) When calibrating and adjusting your corn planter do you:
Check all that apply.
______Set seeding rate according to the planter manual without further adjustments. = 0 points
______Check for proper 2 by 2 starter fertilizer placement. = 1 point
______Use an electronic seed monitor = 1 point
______Check depth of seed placement in each field. = 2 points

7) You generally plant corn:
Check only one.
______In the same field every year. = 0 points
______On a two year rotation (alternating years of corn and another crop). = 2 point
______On a three year rotation (one year of corn and 2 years of other crops). = 6 points
______On a four year or more rotation (one year of corn and three or more years of other
crops). = 8 points
______Confirm seeding rate by counting the seeds dropped over a known distance. = 2 points

Weed Management (Possible points = 115)

8) Which statement best describes your weed management philosophy?
Check only one.
_____Complete weed control. = 0 points
_____To achieve a high level of weed control (escapes tolerable) at an acceptable cost. = 3 points
_____To use weed management practices which provide the highest net return. = 6 points

9) How confident are you that weeds on your farm have been properly identified?
Check only one.
______Never = 0 points
______Sometimes = 4 points
______Always = 6 points

10) How do you scout for weeds?
Check only one.
_____I don’t scout for weeds. = 0 points
_____When I notice something unusual in the field. = 1 point
_____I check only those fields with previous problems. = 2 points
_____I check random fields. = 3 points
_____I check all fields. = 6 points

11) How detailed are your weed maps?
Check only one.
_____I don’t map weeds. = 0 points
_____I map only perennial weed patches. = 2 points
_____I map perennial and annual weeds. = 4 points
_____I map perennial patches and annual weeds including density. = 6 points

12) How do you use weed maps?
Check all that apply.
_____I don’t have weed maps. = 0 points
_____To select herbicides. = 2 points
_____To target spot applications. = 2 points
_____To evaluate my weed management program. = 2 points

13) Do you leave untreated checks to assess weed pressure and percent control?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

14) Do you scout fields for weed escapes to determine if additional control measures are necessary?
Check all that apply.
_____Only when I notice something unusual. = 0 points
_____Between 7-14 days after preemergence herbicide applications. = 3 points
_____Between 21-30 days after preemergence herbicide applications. = 3 points
_____Between 7-14 days after postemergence herbicide applications. = 3 points

15) Which of the following measures do you use to prevent the spread of new weed species?
Check all that apply.
_____I don’t clean equipment. = 0 points
_____I clean tillage equipment. = 1 point
_____I clean harvest equipment. = 2 points
_____I insist custom operators clean their equipment prior to entering my fields. = 3 points

16) In general, how much time passes between final seedbed preparation and planting?
Check only one.
_____More than 5 days = 0 points
_____3 – 5 days = 2 points
_____0 – 2 days = 4 points

17) What is your row spacing and cultivation?
Check only one.
_____More than 36 inches = 0 points
_____30 inches without cultivation = 2 points
_____30inches with cultivation = 4 points
_____Less than 30 inches without cultivation = 4 points
_____Less than 30 inches with cultivation = 6 points

18) Which of the following do you actually consider when selecting herbicides,?
Check all that apply.
_____The need to be a licensed private applicator = 0 points
_____Level of control = 2 points
_____Risk to the applicator = 2 points
_____Environmental safety = 2 points
_____Price = 2 points
_____Carryover potential = 2 points
_____Weed resistance management = 2 points

19) Which method best describes how you calibrate your field sprayer?
Check only one.
_____I don’t have a field sprayer. = 0 points
_____I do not calibrate my sprayer every year. 0 points
_____I divide the number of gallons in the tank by the number of acres sprayed. =1 point
_____I use the spray monitor readings. = 4 points
_____I check the uniformity of the spray pattern, measure tractor speed by time and distance traveled, and
check nozzle output. =6 points

20) When changing from one crop to another, which method best describes how you clean the spray tank?
Check only one.
_____I don’t rinse it out; I just make sure the tank is empty. = 0 points
_____I use water. = 1 point
_____I use water and a tank cleaner. = 3 points
_____I check the herbicide label for instructions on how to clean the tank. = 4 points

21) Which herbicide application timing(s) do you currently use?
Check all that apply.
_____Fall applications for control of next season’s summer annual weeds. = -5 points
_____Fall applications for control of perennial and winter annual weeds = 2 points
_____Preplant incorporated = 2 points
_____Preplant surface= 2 point
_____Burndown = 2 points
_____Preemergence only= 2 points
_____Postemergence only= 2 points
_____Sequential (pre/post) = 5 points

22) Which method of herbicide application do you generally use?
Check all that apply.
_____Custom-applied. = 1 point
_____ Self-applied. = 2 points
_____Banded with at least one timely cultivation = 3 points
_____Spot spray problem areas. = 3 points
_____Below label rate herbicide. = 3 points

23) Do you rotate herbicide modes of action to avoid resistance development?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 6 points

Insect Management (Possible points =83)

24) Which statement best describes your insect management philosophy?
Check only one.
_____Complete insect control = 0 points
_____I don’t treat insect pests regardless of levels = 0 points
_____I use the same insecticide each year regardless of levels = 0 points
_____Keep infestations at or below economic thresholds = 6 points

25) How confident are you that insect pests on your farm have been properly identified?
Check only one.
______Never = 0 points
______Sometimes = 4 points
______Always = 6 points

26) Do you use the “Pest Survey Bulletin” from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to keep track of insect degree-days and pest alerts?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

27) How detailed are your insect pest records?
Check only one.
_____No records. = 0 points
_____Presence of major insect pests are recorded = 3 points
_____Presence and densities of all insect pests are recorded = 6 points

28) Is seedling corn scouted for seed corn maggot, white grub and wireworm damage?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

29) How often is your corn scouted for black cutworms from crop stages V1 to V5?
Check only one.
_____Never = 0 points
_____Once = 1 point
_____Twice = 2 points
_____Weekly from emergence to V5 = 3 points

30) How often is your corn scouted for first generation European corn borer?
Check only one.
_____Never = 0 points
_____Once = 1 point
_____Twice = 2 points
_____Weekly during European corn borer moth flights. = 4 points

31) How often is corn scouted for second generation European corn borer?
Check only one.
_____Never = 0 points
_____Once = 1 point
_____Beginning at weekly intervals until the second-generation egg laying period is complete = 4 points

32) Do you use European corn borer scouting information to schedule harvest?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

33) How often is corn scouted for common stalk borer?
Check only one.
_____Never = 0 points
_____Once = 1 point
_____At weekly intervals until treatment window has past. = 4 points

34) In continuous corn, do you scout for corn rootworm beetles to predict next years’ damage potential?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 6 points

35) Do you apply insecticides on first-year corn to control corn rootworms?
_____ No = 3 points
_____Yes = -5 points

36) On continuous corn fields with light to moderate populations of corn rootworms, do you use below label rates of soil-applied insecticides?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

37) Do you consider the benefits of weed control on reducing insect pest infestations?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

38) Which of the following do you actually consider when selecting a corn insecticide?
Check all that apply.
_____Need to be a licensed private applicator = 0 points
_____Level of insect control = 2 points
_____Price = 2 points
_____Environmental safety = 2 points
_____Risk to the applicator = 2 points
_____Alternate mode of action = 2 points

39) Which calibration method for soil applied insecticides do you use?
Check only one.
_____Don’t calibrate the planter. = 0 points
_____Planter is set according to manual without further adjustment = 0 points
_____Pounds of insecticide used is divided by acres planted. = 1 points
_____I measure the amount of insecticide dropped over a known distance = 6 points

40) Do you decide to plant a Bt corn hybrid based on European corn borer scouting data from your farm and the probability of having economic loss?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 6 points

41) Do you follow the Insect Resistance Management Program when using Bt corn?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 6 points

Disease Management (Points possible = 40)

42) How confident are you that corn diseases on your farm have been properly identified?
Choose only one.
_____Never = 0 points
_____Sometimes = 2 points
_____Always = 4 points

43) Based on the incidence of corn disease in the previous year, do you:
Check all that apply.
_____Change nothing = 0 points
_____Change hybrid = 2 points
_____Change rotation = 2 points
_____Change tillage practices = 2 points

44) What general method do you use to scout for corn diseases?
Check only one.
_____I don’t scout for diseases. = 0 points
_____When I notice something unusual in the field. = 1 point
_____I check only those fields with previous problems. =2 points
_____I check random fields. =3 points
_____I check all fields. = 6 points

45) What schedule do you use to scout corn for diseases?
Check all that apply.
_____When I notice something unusual. = 0 points
_____During corn emergence. = 3 points
_____From the vegetative stage through tasseling. = 3 points
_____Prior to harvest. = 3 points

46) Do you consider any of the following traits when selecting a hybrid?
Check all that apply.
_____Cold tolerance. = 2 points
_____Seedling vigor. = 2 points
_____Disease resistance = 2 points

47) Do you request a specific seed treatment for seedling disease protection?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

48) Do you use corn leaf health to predict stalk rot problems?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points

49) Do you harvest fields with stalk rot first?
_____ No = 0 points
_____Yes = 3 points