It’s the time of year where soybean insects are much more likely to cause us problems, and it is important to vigilantly scout. Although stink bug populations are behind schedule, they are becoming more common. I’ve received numerous questions about a complex of pests including Continue reading
I’m just putting the word out to report any finds of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). This is especially for those located in the western one-half of the state. This invasive pest is well established in the eastern parts of the state, around Nashville, and has been found in at low numbers in soybean in Shelby (2015) and Madison Counties (2016). However, Continue reading
I’ve been a little slow at posting the Emergency Exemption label that allows the use of Sivanto prime in sweet sorghum (link to 2016 Crisis Exemption Sivanto). The important details of this label are listed below. The standard recommended use rate is 4-5 oz of Sivanto prime per acre.
We have much fewer acres of grain sorghum planted in Tennessee this year, and I’ve spent a lot less time blogging or answering questions about sugarcane aphid. That has not stopped this pest from being present in most sorghum fields. Please refer to my many previous articles about managing this pest during the last two years … just search for sugarcane aphid in the search bar. There are a couple of things you need to be aware of before making an insecticide application (see below). Continue reading
I’ve had several calls from the Mississippi River Bottoms and the southern counties of West Tennessee about high numbers of bean leaf beetles, sometimes as many as 200-400 per 100 sweeps. Bean leaf beetle feed primarily on foliage in the upper part of the canopy. They occasionally will feed on pods, although this occurs rarely and is hard to predict. Continue reading
Many fields are now well at or past cutout (< NAWF5), and some folks have made or are planning on their last insecticide spray. I wrote last week on the topic of terminating insecticide applications, for plant bugs in particular. Below are a few other points for consideration. Continue reading
Although insect pests don’t require treatment on all soybean acres, there are some common pests we need to scout and manage for on a routine basis. The most serious pests typically infest soybean after pods have begun to develop, and in many cases, the threat of insect infestations are worse in later maturing fields. However, soybeans should be scouted weekly for the presence of insect pests until full seed (R6) plus another 10 days. Continue reading
Tyson Raper, Heather Kelly and Frank Yin
Observing canopy characteristics during the growing season is a good way to understand the plant’s response to its environment. Occasionally, portions of the canopy may develop reddish-purple or red tones. The synthesis of anthocyanin, the pigment which typically causes the reddening, is commonly increased after leaves are exposed to light following multiple abiotic and biotic stresses. Continue reading