José María Morelos, Q.R. — Corn farmers in José María Morelos are receiving support from the municipality after crop damage. The state’s southwestern farmers have been dealing with fall armyworms this year, a caterpillar pest that has damaged hectares of rainfed corn stalks.
Due to ongoing farmer reports of crop damage, Mayor Erik Borges Yam coordinated a technical advice visit with state authorities.
Personnel from Agricultural, Rural and Fisheries Development, the State Committee for Plant Health of Quintana Roo and the General Directorate of Economic, and Agricultural Development, among others, visited planted plots to address the problem.
A tour was made of the affected areas of damaged stalks where the fall armyworms have been gnawing away at the green leafy part of the plants. Borges Yam said the goal in working with state officials is to design a strategy for the prevention, management and timely control of the fall armyworm.
Abel de los Santos López of Agriculture mentioned that the fall armyworm is a pest that is present nationwide. He said one way to prevent it is with actions that include timely training, assistance and technical support for producers.
Linda Saray Cobos Castro, the Secretariat of Agricultural, Rural and Fisheries Development, explained that this atypical year has consisted of weather conditions of excessive rain and high temperatures.
These conditions created forest fires that caused producers to modify their planting dates and therefore the stages of management of the corn crop, making the plants more vulnerable to this pest.
While armyworms feed mostly on leaves, they will feed on stems, resulting in a loss of the plant. The change in food choice is caused by a depletion of leaf material. In times of food depletion, armyworms will ‘march’ out in search of food.
