Lots of Insect Activity Still Out There

It’s been quite a week and it’s only Tuesday.  Many of you are calling about one of these pest issues so hopefully I can help answer all of your questions here. Grass Sawfly in Wheat:  Once you start to see sawfly feeding (see previous blog for pics and details) the feeding damage is nearly done.  […]

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Grass Sawfly Showing Up Again

I was hoping this was a one time pest that showed up last year.  But there have been some wheat fields in the Highgate/Muirkirk to Kerwood areas that are seeing grass sawfly feeding.  It is easier to identify grass sawfly since they feed during the day.  They also have a characteristic feeding habit of clipping […]

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Black Cutworm and Armyworm – Get Out and Scout!

Lots of reports are coming in of black cutworm and armyworm damage in Ontario. Black cutworm has been found feeding in numerous corn fields and even an alfalfa field.  Locations that I know of so far include fields near: Parkhill, Watford, Embro (alfalfa field), Renfrew County, and parts of West Elgin. True armyworm has also […]

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Late Planted Soys at Risk of Soybean Aphids?

I’ve been pondering our planting situation lately and what impacts it is going to have on some of our key insect pests.   We’ve been anticipating this year to be a good soybean aphid year for Ontario.  It was such an extremely low aphid year last year that natural enemies didn’t build up their populations.  So […]

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Checklist for High Yielding Soybeans

The Ontario Soybean Growers began a soybean yield competition in 2008. The results were impressive! The winner yielded 72.1 bu/ac near Seaforth. These yields are good examples that with the right weather, soil type, and management, large yields are possible in Ontario. With the big yields and excellent prices in 2008, some producers grossed over […]

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Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is most visible when the soybean crop enters the reproductive stages of development because most of the resources of the plant begin to shift from vegetative (leafs, stems, roots, etc) growth to producing and filling the pods. When this shift in resources occurs, the plant’s natural defense mechanisms are reduced (especially […]

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Grubs and Slugs and Wireworms…OH MY!

Despite all this rain, pests are still doing quite well out there, as long as they have something to eat.  We had a lot of snow cover this winter which has helped insulate any insects that overwinter and the cool wet soils are helping these soil pests remain active.   Some are just waiting for their […]

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