Agriculture and Food Systems Program (AgFS)

Risk Update – May 15, 2026

Fusarium Head Blight Risk Tool

Low risk as of May 15, 2026. Wheat is at the end of flowering. To see commentary from Extension Pathologists, click on the megaphone icon in the top right corner. 

Wheat Field Notes – May 14

General Notes

• If cereal leaf beetles are still active and have reached the threshold of 1 larva per stem, consider spraying. The larva can eat quite a bit if left unchecked; damage can still be done between flowering and the soft dough stage.

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: Feekes 10.5.3 Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (very low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders

Poolesville

Growth Stage: 10.5.3 (late flowering) Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (10-15% of plants with 1 larva per stem; below threshold of 25%); aphids (low) Beneficial Insects: Lady beetles

May 7

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: Feekes 10.5.2-10.5.3 (mid- to late-flowering) Insect Pests: Aphids and cereal leaf beetle (both very low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders

Poolesville

Growth Stage: 10.5.3 (late flowering) Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (10-15% of plants with 1 larva per stem) Beneficial Insects: Spiders

April 30

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: 10.3 (heading one-half complete) Insect Pests: Aphids (very low); no cereal leaf beetles caught Beneficial Insects: Spiders, green lacewing Disease present: Leaf rust (on lower leaves, scattered throughout the field)

Poolesville

Growth Stage: Majority of field at 10.5 (heading complete); some areas of the field at 10.5.1 (beginning flowering) Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (10-15% of plants with 1 larva per stem). Minor damage to the flag leaf Beneficial Insects: Spiders, green lacewing

April 23

General Notes

• Winter annuals are flowering and setting seed. Note heavy‑population areas and plan fall herbicide applications.
• Freeze damage is very minor. Some plants show a killed leaf, but the head and growing point remain healthy.
• Cereal leaf beetle eggs and larvae are present. Wheat is at or near boot stage.
  • Penn State Agronomy Guide threshold: 1 larva per stem at boot stage.
  • University of Delaware threshold:   “The treatment threshold is 25 eggs and/or larvae per 100 tillers. Treatment is suggested when the egg threshold is reached and more than 50% of the sample consists of larvae.”

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: Feekes 8–9 (flag leaf visible; some fully emerged) Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (low), aphids (very low) Beneficial insects: Spiders

Poolesville

Growth Stage: Feekes 10 (boot) Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (moderate), aphids (very low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders

April 16

General Notes

Cereal leaf beetle eggs are present and larvae are hatching. Eggs may be parasitized, so thresholds focus on larvae.

• University of Delaware threshold: 25 eggs and/or larvae per 100 tillers, with >50% larvae.
• Penn State threshold: 1 larva per stem at boot stage.

Laytonsville

Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders, lady beetles

Poolesville

Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle (moderate; ~10% of stems with 1 larva or eggs) Beneficial Insects: Spiders

April 9

General Notes

Scout fields to confirm weed control after herbicide applications. Winter annuals (henbit, deadnettle, chickweed) and roughstalk bluegrass are flowering. Cereal leaf beetles and aphids are the primary insects to monitor at this time of year.

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: Feekes 5 Insect Pests: Aphids (very low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders, lady beetles

Poolesville – Field 1

Growth Stage: Feekes 5–6 Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle adults (low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders, lady beetles

Poolesville – Field 2

Growth Stage: Feekes 5 Insect Pests: Cereal leaf beetle adults (low) Beneficial Insects: Spiders, lady beetles

Corn Field Notes – May 14

Poolesville - Field 1

Growth Stage: V3 Leaves turning purple due to cooler weather (slower growth results in sugar buildup) Slug Damage: Minimal 

Poolesville - Field 2 (New to this report)

Growth Stage: V1  Slug Damage: Minimal Weeds: Morning glory emerging

May 7

Poolesville

Growth Stage: V2 Slug Damage: Minimal

April 30

Poolesville

Growth Stage: VE (emergence), almost V1. No evidence of slugs present. Some moisture in the topsoil. (Can squeeze the soil into a ball, but it does not make a ribbon,explained here by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.)

April 23

General Notes

Corn’s growing point remains below the soil surface until the V6 stage. If corn had already emerged before the April 20–21 freeze, the plant should regrow even if the leaves were damaged or killed.

April 16

Poolesville

Corn was planted but had not yet emerged.

Insects:

• No slugs observed
• Wireworm and grubs present at low levels

Weeds:

• Summer annuals emerging, including pigweed species

Soybean Field Notes – May 15

Poolesville

Growth Stage: VC  Slug Damage: Minimal

Laytonsville

Growth Stage: VE  Weeds: Crabgrass emerging

May 7

Poolesville

Growth Stage: VC (unfolding of the first unifoliolate leaves) Slug Damage: Minimal

April 30

Growth Stage: VE (emergence) - VC (unfolding of the first unifoliolate leaves). No evidence of slugs present. Some moisture in the topsoil. (Can squeeze the soil into a ball, but it does not make a ribbon, explained here by the U.S. Department of Agriculture .)

April 23

General Notes

If soybeans had emerged before the April 20–21 freeze, they may show signs of damage.

• If damage occurred above the cotyledons (the first thick leaves to emerge), the plant can regrow.
• If damage occurred at the hypocotyl (the hook that first emerges) or at the cotyledons, the plant cannot recover.

Poolesville

Growth Stage: VE (emergence) Insects: No slugs observed.

April 16

Poolesville

Soybeans were planted but had not yet emerged.

Insects: No slugs Weeds: Summer annuals, including pigweed species, emerging

Sweet Corn Field Notes – April 23

Freeze Damage

Corn’s growing point remains below the soil surface until the V6 stage. If corn had already emerged before the April 20–21 freeze, the plant should regrow even if the leaves were damaged or killed.

Corn Earworm Monitoring

Corn earworm traps will be deployed in June.

For current vegetable insect scouting tips, visit the  University of Delaware's Weekly Crop Update 

If you experienced crop or property damage from the April 20–21 freeze, please contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) if you have not already done so.

FSA Phone: (301) 250‑4735 ext. 2

Weeds

Virginia Tech Weed Identification

Insects

Common Soybean Pests in Maryland

Mid-Atlantic Guide to the Insect Pests and Beneficials of Corn, Soybean, and Small Grains

Diseases

Corn, Soybean, Small Grains, and Cucurbit Diseases, University of Delaware