Armyworms Threaten Wheat In North-Central Oklahoma

Wednesday, May 23rd 2007, 8:49 am

By: News On 6

GARBER, Okla. (AP) -- Wheat farmers in north-central Oklahoma are facing a new threat. After drought last year, then a freeze and a fungus known as leaf rust this spring the farmers are now fighting an infestation of armyworms. Armyworms strip wheat of leaves and Garfield County Extension agent Bart Cardwell says they can devastate a field almost overnight.

Officials say the hardest hit area is northeast of Enid and farmers are now spraying their fields in an effort to save the crop.

Analysts have forecast this year's wheat crop at 161 million bushels which would be a 91% increase over last year's crop. Last year's wheat was the smallest crop in Oklahoma in nearly 50 years because of the drought.

Other parts of the state appear to have avoided a heavy armyworm infestation but the start of harvest could be delayed by rains.