With the persistent rain that we’ve had recently on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, slugs have started attacking corn and other crops in some no-till fields. This is an age old problem, and the solution has not changed in decades. Dry weather will eliminate the slug problem. However, if seedlings are small (less than 3 leaves), and the slug infestation is heavy, economic damage can occur from this pest. Below is the recommendations taken from the Virginia Cooperative Extension Pest management Guide for Field Crops http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/pmg/fc/InsectsCorn.pdf

Slug, Snail Sampling/Decision Making
Slugs can become serious pests in no-till fields during spring periods of cool, wet weather. Fields with heavy layers of manure,
crop refuse, or thick weed cover are at higher risk from slugs. Because slugs feed at night and hide during the day in the mulch
and surface trash near the seedlings, they often are not suspected of being the cause of the shredded leaves on the young corn
seedlings. Yet slugs can be found during the day by turning over clods of dirt and surface trash near the seedlings. It is suggested
that samples be taken from the area around 5 plants in 10 locations of the field to determine the average number of slugs
associated with each plant. Populations of 5 or more slugs around each plant at the spike through the 3rd-leaf stage may be
economic, especially if injury is heavy, plant growth is slow, and cool, wet conditions prevail. During dry, warm weather, 10
or more slugs per plant may be tolerated. Also, corn seedlings that have reached the 3rd-leaf stage of growth generally are able
to outgrow feeding damage by slugs.
Cultural practices which may help reduce slug populations include reduction in the use of manure, shift to conventional tillage
practices for at least one season, and minimum tillage to reduce the amount of surface trash.

There is basically one registered product for control of slugs, and it works well. metaldehyde(product = Deadline M-Ps, deadline Bullets)applied at 10.0-40.0 lb per acre. For best results, apply product in evening. Especially beneficial if applied following rain or watering. It should be noted that most corn-producing states are suggesting an application rate
of 12 to 15 lb/A, if banded over or along side the row after the plants have emerged. Recent Delaware field trials indicate good results
against slugs using 10 lb Deadline M-Ps/A broadcast with a cyclone spreader. Spreader must be calibrated to deliver at least 5 pellets/sq ft. Slugs generally stop feeding in 2-3 hours and die within 2-3 days.