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Projects

  • buffer strip

    Investigators: Dr. Matthew E. O’Neal and Joe Wheelock

    The goal of this project is to understand the species composition of beneficial insects across a gradient of adjacent habitats with different management regimes.

  • aphis glycines

    Investigators: Dr. Adam J. Varenhorst, Dr. Matthew E. O'Neal, Dr. Michael T. McCarville

    Observations of virulent Aphis glycines populations on resistant soybean in North America occurred prior to the commercial release of Rag genes. Laboratory assays confirmed the presence of four A. glycines biotypes in North America defined by their virulence to the Rag1 and Rag2 genes. Avirulent and virulent biotypes can co-occur and potentially interact on soybean, which may result in induced susceptibility.

  • Investigators: Erika Rodbell (M.S. student), Matt O’Neal (Associate Professor), Erin Hodgson (Associate Professor), Matt Liebman (Professor)

    Longer rotation schemes require less herbicide and reduce frequency of sudden death syndrome in soybean. Crop rotation can alter the soil environment, affecting plant physiology, and may impact insects, like soybean aphid.

  • rotations

    Investigators: Dr. Matthew E. O’Neal, Dr. Aaron J. Gassmann, Mike W. Dunbar

    Managing pest injury is an important component for agronomic production. Pests of agriculture extended beyond just insects but include other arthropods, plant diseases, and weeds.

  • people in protective gear

    Principal Investigators: Erin Hodgson (Associate Professor), Greg VanNostrand (Research Associate)

    The use of insecticides to control the soybean aphid has become a predominant management practice for growers. Before the confirmation of the soybean aphid in 2000, less than 0.1% of soybean was treated with insecticides.

  • Investigators: Ivair Valmorbida (Ph.D. student), Jessica Hohenstein (Post-doctoral Associate), Brad Coates (USDA-ARS Scientist), Joel Coats (Professor), Matt O’Neal (Associate Professor), Erin Hodgson (Associate Professor)

    Soybean aphid management has relied heavily on foliar insecticides to protect yield since 2000. In 2016, performance issues have been documented in commercial fields and research plots in northern Iowa counties.

  • Investigators: Erika Rodbell (M.S. student), Matt O’Neal (Associate Professor), Erin Hodgson (Associate Professor)

    Host plant resistance for soybean aphid is a management tool to protect yield. Our lab has evaluated the efficacy and of host plant resistance but generally with small plot research.

  • melissodes

    Investigator: Dr. Matthew O'Neal

    The goal of this research project is to develop a research-based guide for farmers, landowners and policy writers on the enhancement of ecosystem services derived from agricultural landscapes.

  • halictidae2

    Investigators: Dr. Matthew E. O'Neal and Joe Wheelock

    Concerns regarding honey bee (Apis meliffera) declines and pollination losses compelled members of Congress to make the conservation of native bees a priority in the 2008 Farm Bill. Pollination is an essential ecosystem service provided by bees.

  • Investigators: Jessica Hohenstein (Post-doctoral Associate), Matt O’Neal (Associate Professor)

    With funding from the North Central Soybean Research Program, we are determining if aphid-resistant soybeans can be use with a “refuge-in-a-bag” or RIB. Refuges of pest-susceptible varieties are often included when a pest-resistant variety of a crop is used.

  • Principal Investigator(s): Ge Zhang (Ph.D. student), Caroline Murray (M.S. student), Lisa Schulte-Moore (Professor), Amy Toth (Associate Professor), Matt O’Neal (Associate Professor)

    We are exploring how small patches of native, perennial vegetation (i.e., prairie) can increase the abundance and diversity of pollinators within corn and soybean. We observed honey bee colonies in Iowa lose weight beginning in August, when clover and soybean cease blooming. When colonies had access to a prairie from August to October, they were buffered from this late season decline.