Location: Dixon, Wayne, Cedar and Knox Counties Focus Area: Crops - Integrated Pest Management Issue Team Co-Leader: Adopting Management Strategies to Deal with Resistant and Invasive Pests Focus Resources:CropWatch.unl.edu,Water.unl.edu
Soybean aphids are at low numbers in northeast, but these populations could quickly explode when temperatures drop. Farmers are encouraged to scout their fields and be prepared to treat if numbers reach the threshold.
The current economic threshold for soybean aphids is 250 aphids per plant with 80% of the plant infested and populations increasing. The article discusses the basis for this threshold and two scouting methods, including a speed scouting app, and management guidelines.
As corn begins to emerge, be alert to the potential for damage from early season insects such as cutworms, wireworms, or white grubs. Wireworms and white grubs are most often associated with fields that have been in pasture or CRP where the grasses were allowed to grow for more than one year. It is rare to see these problems in continuous corn, but exceptions happen. Since wireworms and white grubs feed underground and cutworms feed on or below the soil surface, scout for plant damage and then dig in soil around the plant to identify the insect causing the damage.
Alfalfa weevils have been reported damaging alfalfa in north central Kansas and western Nebraska. As temperatures warm up, expect to see alfalfa weevil larvae in southern Nebraska and slightly later, in northern Nebraska. Even with the pressure of planting row crops, it is essential that producers growing high quality alfalfa hay make time to monitor fields for weevils now and over the next few weeks. See the article for a table of treatment thresholds for various alfalfa prices.
Nebraska soybean producers are being asked to answer a survey about their soybean fields and contribute to a benchmark study of current soybean production in Nebraska. Researchers from 10 north central states, including Nebraska, are collecting the data to identify factors that may be impeding growers from reaching full yield. See what they've learned in the first two years of the study and how they hope to use the information.
Proper cleaning of all harvesting equipment and grain bins and preparation of bins is a key to preserving stored grain quality. See these recommendations and lists of commonly used products for treating bins.
This week soybean aphids were found in several northeast Nebraska fields at low numbers. Although it has been too hot for soybean aphids to thrive, populations could quickly increase with cooler temperatures. Scouting is recommended at this time.
The current recommended economic threshold for late vegetative through R5 stage soybeans is 250 aphids per plant with 80% of the plants infested and populations increasing. Depending on economic conditions, this generally gives you about five to seven days to schedule treatment before populations reach economically damaging levels.
