Insect Management

Man stands in lab near plants — Husker research into sorghum's natural self-defenses benefits from the university's “holistic” multidisciplinary approach, said Joe Louis, Harold W. Eberhard Professor of Agricultural Entomology. That wide-ranging research method pinpointed a key plant hormone that strengthens sorghum's self-protection against a major threat, the sugarcane aphid. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)

Husker Findings Boost Understanding of Sorghum’s Pest Resistance

October 25, 2024

UNL researchers have identified a hormone that boosts sorghum's resistance to the sugarcane aphid, offering a sustainable pest control option through enhanced natural defenses.

Soybean tentiform leafminer under examination light — **Figure 1.** An adult soybean tentiform leafminer. While STL has infested fields in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota since 2021, the soybean pest has now been discovered in Nebraska. (All photos by Wayne Ohnesorg)

Soybean Tentiform Leafminer Found in Nebraska

October 10, 2024

A new soybean pest has moved into Nebraska — the soybean tentiform leafminer was positively identified in a Madison County field last month. At present, there are no known management methods for this insect.

Grasshopper on plant leaf — Monitoring grasshopper populations using the square-foot method can help prevent damage to late summer alfalfa and forage crops, with insecticide treatments considered if thresholds are exceeded.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Alfalfa Irrigation and Last Cutting, Grasshopper Management

September 12, 2024

Extension insights on fall alfalfa irrigation for improving yields, strategies for timing the last cutting to ensure winter survival, and grasshopper management to protect late summer forage from pest damage.

Arthropod Abundance in Industrial Hemp in West-central Nebraska

September 11, 2024

A diversity of both beneficial and potentially harmful insects has been found in industrial hemp grown in west-central Nebraska, and continued research will be crucial for producers in managing pests as hemp production expands in the state.

Fall armyworm on damaged leaf — Early detection of fall armyworm caterpillars is crucial, as they can cause significant crop damage once they reach ¾-inch in size. (CropWatch file photo)

Pasture and Forage Minute: Tips for Fall Armyworm Scouting and Corn Silage Harvest

August 20, 2024

Recommendations on scouting and treatment thresholds for fall armyworm, control of late summer pasture weeds, and best practices for corn silage harvest and storage.

People gather at field's edge to listen to presentation — Attendees gather to listen to a presentation during a past South Central Agricultural Laboratory Field Day. Presentations during the 2024 SCAL Field Day will include technologies for irrigation scheduling, corn and soybean disease updates, optimizing nitrogen use efficiency via sensor-based fertigation, and more. (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture photo)

South Central Agricultural Lab Field Day Kicks Off Aug. 8

July 25, 2024

This year's SCAL Field Day features a live demonstration of John Deere's new camera-based weed detection technology, See and Spray™.

Men and women look at soybean plant near field — Attendees gather in the field for discussion during the 2023 Soybean Management Field Days in Dewitt. (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture photo)

New Format for Nebraska Soybean Management Field Days

July 23, 2024

New in 2024, three of the four Soybean Management Field Days will be hosted during evening hours at sites across eastern and central Nebraska.

Photo collage of insect on plant leaf and hand holding bisected plant stem — **Figure 1.** Adult soybean stem borer, Dectes texanus texanus (left) and larval tunneling in soybean petioles (right) at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center in June 2024.

Dectes Stem Borer in Soybean

July 10, 2024

A difficult insect to manage, soybean stem borer has expanded its reach in Nebraska. This extension article reviews considerations for scouting and control options, plus resources for producers to learn more on this crop pest.

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