Yeonggwang-gun Urges Pest Control for Brown Planthoppers and Other Diseases

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeon Seong] Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim Jun-seong) announced on the 9th that it conducted pest surveillance for rice planthoppers and other pests in the area and urged farmers to control stink bugs, planthoppers, rice ear-cutting caterpillars, and rice leaf folders.

The Agricultural Technology Center conducted a pest occurrence survey on the 7th in the paddy fields around Ugok-ri, Bulgap-myeon, and Wolam-ri, Myoryang-myeon. The survey confirmed no occurrence of rice planthoppers, but white-backed planthoppers, stink bugs, rice ear-cutting caterpillars, and rice blast disease were found causing damage to the rice.

Considering the increase in rice planthopper populations in China due to winter warming and the influx of white-backed planthoppers from China into the area, the density is expected to increase from late this month. Therefore, primary pest control should be carried out from the 10th of this month to the 10th of next month.

Additionally, stink bugs, which have been increasing annually, damage rice by sucking the stems, and in severe cases, can completely kill the rice stems. Therefore, stink bug control is essential.

An official from the Agricultural Technology Center said, "We ask farmers to carry out the first pest control from mid-this month to early next month," and added, "For single cropping, please perform mid-water drainage in early to mid-this month and apply NK fertilizer at 10 to 11 kg per 10a after the 20th of this month."