Req 8a3 — Crop Pests and Weeds
Healthy crops compete against insects, diseases, and weeds all season long. Agronomists study these threats so they can protect yield without creating bigger problems for soil, wildlife, or people.
One Pest and One Disease for Each Crop Group
You only need one example for each crop group, but choose examples that are actually important where you live.
Corn
- Insect pest example: corn rootworm or corn earworm
- Disease example: gray leaf spot or corn smut
Small grains
- Insect pest example: Hessian fly or aphids
- Disease example: rusts, powdery mildew, or Fusarium head blight
Cotton
- Insect pest example: bollworm, boll weevil, or cotton fleahopper
- Disease example: bacterial blight or wilt diseases
For each one, be ready to explain what part of the plant is damaged, how that lowers yield or quality, and how growers try to control it.
Weed Control Without Unnecessary Harm
Weeds compete for sunlight, water, space, and nutrients. The safest control plan usually uses integrated pest management instead of jumping straight to broad chemical control.
Lower-Harm Weed Control
Use the least damaging effective methods first
- Prevent introduction: Clean boots, tools, and equipment before moving between sites.
- Mulch or cover the soil: Block light so weed seeds do not sprout.
- Hand-pull or hoe early: Small weeds are easier to control before they flower and set seed.
- Use crop rotation and spacing: Healthy crops can outcompete some weeds.
- Spot-treat only when needed: If herbicide is required, use the smallest targeted treatment and follow the label exactly.
Official Resources
🎬 Video: Different Types of Diseases in Corn (video) — https://youtu.be/lpIsRU63qIE
🎬 Video: Major Pest of Cotton (video) — https://youtu.be/Yt_Z3SJmw3c