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Wooster Today
By the People, for the People
Slugs Pose Persistent No-Till Threat
Identifying, monitoring, and managing slugs can help no-till farmers minimize crop damage
Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:40am
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Intricate diagrams reveal the hidden biological mechanisms behind the persistent slug threat facing no-till farmers.Wooster TodaySlugs continue to be a major concern for some no-till farmers, with a few Ohio growers even abandoning no-till due to slug-related crop losses. However, entomologist Ron Hammond of Ohio State University says that by properly identifying, monitoring, and managing slugs, no-tillers can overcome this persistent challenge and protect their yields.
Why it matters
Slugs can cause significant damage to emerging crops like corn and soybeans in no-till fields, leading some growers to abandon the beneficial no-till farming practice. Understanding slug biology and implementing targeted management strategies is crucial for no-till farmers to maintain profitability.
The details
The gray garden slug is the most economically damaging slug species. Slug damage corresponds to the timing of egg hatch and crop emergence - if corn is small when the eggs hatch in mid-to-late May, the slugs will feed on the emerging leaves. Damage can still occur even when the corn is taller, as long as the newer leaves are being defoliated and the crop's growth is stunted.
- Slug egg hatch generally occurs in mid- to late May in central Ohio.
- Slug damage to corn crops is most common when the corn is at the 2-3 leaf stage, typically in June.
The players
Ron Hammond
An entomologist with the Ohio State University Agricultural Experiment Station in Wooster, Ohio.
What they’re saying
“If the corn is fairly small, which is fairly unusual in terms of the egg hatch, you'll get feeding on leaves that are just coming out of the ground.”
— Ron Hammond, Entomologist
“Normally we get a lot of damage when the corn is a bit taller (at the two- to three-leaf stage). But even when the corn is a lot taller, there can still be a lot of damage.”
— Ron Hammond, Entomologist
What’s next
As long as newer corn leaves have clean leaf tissue and are not being damaged, growers are usually past the stage where they need to treat for slugs. However, if the upper leaves are still being defoliated and the crop's growth is stunted due to warmer temperatures, additional management may be required.
The takeaway
Slug management is a persistent challenge for no-till farmers, but by properly identifying, monitoring, and implementing targeted control strategies, growers can overcome this threat and maintain the benefits of no-till farming.
