I’m getting quite a few calls about slugs taking out soybean plantings not once but sometimes twice in the same field. It has been an ideal spring for slugs with all of this wet cool weather. And last fall was wet too, which helped all those slugs lay eggs and survive in these problem fields. Unfortunately there is not a lot that…

We are starting to see natural enemies moving into the soybean fields to feed on the aphids there. Ladybugs and syrphid fly larvae are the most evident but there have been a few fungal mummies starting to show up too, thanks to this moist week. This cooler weather will slow down the aphids doubling rate a bit and help the…
Traps were just going up last week but already both Michigan and Ohio have caught their first WBC moth of the season. Traps also went up last week in Ontario and our trap participants will be sending in their results this week. We will be updating our trap captures each week via maps. Ontario WBC Trap Maps will be available at: http://www.cornpest.ca/default/index.cfm/wbc-trap-network/ Michigan is also…

I’ve had a few calls come in this week about this issue. Some reps are starting to find about 15 – 30 aphids per plant and want to know if they should tankmix some insecticide in with the herbicide since they have to spray the weeds this week anyway, in hopes of getting ahead of the aphid infestation. Straight up this is…
We are starting to scout our soybean sites for 2009. Our weekly scouting results are available on the IPM PIPE Network at: http://sba.ipmpipe.org/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi?host=All%20Legumes/Kudzu&pest=soybean_aphid We will be updating these maps weekly and will include any key observations and recommendations within the commentary for both soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles. To see the Ontario commentary, you need to zoom in to the province…

The latest version (2009-2010) of the Field Crop Protection Guide, OMAFRA Publication 812 is now in print and available at any of the OMAFRA Resource Centres or can be purchased online at ServiceOntario (see link below). This book contains the latest in recommended control products for field crop insect pests and diseases. Cost is $15. https://www.publications.serviceontario.ca/ecom/MasterServlet/GetItemDetailsHandler?iN=0812E&qty=1&viewMode=3&loggedIN=false&JavaScript=y 🙂
After very little effort on our part, we were able to find soybean aphids on soybeans in the Arva Ontario area. Only 5-10% of the plants had 1-15 aphids per plant on average but we found them in every field that was within the VC, almost V1 stage. Similar reports are coming in from Eastern Ontario. Ohio just reported to us…
Okay..it is a busy week on the insect front. Sorry..two posts in one day but I want to get the message out! Bean leaf beetle adults are active in emerging soybean fields. We are starting to see feeding damage in several fields in the southwestern counties. These beetles have been waiting a while for soybeans to come up. Fields not planted…
Heard from two credible sources that soybean aphids are on VC and V1 stage soybeans at London’s AAFC (North East side of London) as well as a few fields in Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec. I will be doing a more thorough search this afternoon North of London too to see how widespread the aphids are colonizing in that area. No high…
Chris DiFonzo just notified me that she has found soybean aphids on early planted soybeans in Michigan. This is a very good indication that Ontario could have aphids on any soys that have emerged. Try to get out and scout fields between the rains this week. If anyone finds fields with aphids in them, please notify me as we are trying…
On the conference call with my US counterparts yesterday, it was mentioned that fields in NE Iowa are starting to see soybean aphids colonize soybeans there. This is a good indication that once our soys are emerging we should be scouting fields once a week to monitor for aphids. Particularly those4 fields that are first to emerge in the area.
The first report of spraying for armyworm in sweet corn in Essex County came in today. We are not sure how heavy of infestation to expect in other fields but wheat and newly emerging corn fields should be scouted in Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin and Middlesex counties asap. Armyworm reports from Essex tend to give us a few days heads-up…