Wednesday, August 12, 2009

State: Army worm threat diminishing

State Agriculture officials say damage that the true army worm caused recently on cornfields at some farms in Rutland and Addison counties is diminishing and the worst effects may be over.



Heather Darb is an agronomist with UVM Extension Service and says most of the reports of army worm infestations she received were from Rutland County. She said on Tuesday that the worms are under control Recent sightings of the true army worm at some Rutland County cornfields reminded local farmers of past attacks as well as a sigh of relief that it hasn't hit harder this year. Timmouth dairy farmer Cris Carabeau tells the Rutland Herald that --quote "They can make a field of corn look like a field of bamboo (in an afternoon)." She was talking about the way the worm can strip leaves off corn stalks when they show up en masse. Carabeau said she was hoping the worm would pass her up this year.