FFAR Rapid Funding Develops Pest Management Program for Sweet Corn

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.

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.

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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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR