On-farm trials were conducted, in Imbabura Province in northern Ecuador from October 1986 to July 1987, to observe insect pests and their damage in two corn varieties, with and without chemical fertilizer. A new early maturing soft corn variety (INIAP 13 0) was compared with the most common local soft corn (Huandango). There was no significant yield difference between the two varieties. However, the application of chemical fertilizer significantly increased yields in both varieties.