USA
March 20, 2025
Corn earworm, a destructive moth, is causing millions of dollars of damage to sweet corn production in western Colorado and could potentially damage other crops. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, Colorado State University, Colorado West Sweet Corn Administrative Committee, Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Tuxedo Corn Company, Mountain Quality Marketing, Mountain Fresh, Soil Health Services, AgBiTech and Lepidext provided the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association a $351,670 Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop a pest management program.
The ongoing corn earworm outbreak has overwhelmed western Colorado growers. In 2024, growers cut production by a third after losing 52% of their crops to corn earworm in 2023, a loss valued at over $2.7 million. Additionally, corn earworms have recently mated with a closely related species, old world bollworm, causing corn earworm to develop resistance to some insecticides. Over 250 plant species host corn earworms, raising concerns about its potential to damage other crops.
Sweet corn growers are facing a devastating pest with no strategies to protect their crops. Providing growers with tools to effectively manage corn earworm is vital to helping them remain profitable and even viable. ROAR’s rapid response funding is helping researchers identify and deploy the strategies to protect their crops and livelihoods.
Angela Records, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Researchers Dr. Mickey Eubanks and Patrick O’Neill, led by Adrian Card, state produce specialist at Colorado State University Extension, are conducting on-farm trials of two new products with the potential to suppress corn earworms. They are also determining if the corn earworms present in western Colorado are resistant to some of the newer, currently available insecticides. Results from this work will be immediately communicated to growers, allowing them to make the best decisions about how to fight this pest.
This FFAR funding and the financial and personnel commitment of all Colorado contributing organizations is vital to quickly find a solution to the financial devastation that western Colorado growers are experiencing. Without a solution, these farms will not be able to continue raising sweet corn and may not be able to survive at all. This funding is giving us hope.
Adrian Card
State Produce Specialist, Colorado State University
FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the U.S. food supply or agricultural systems.
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