Soybean aphids are picking up activity throughout Iowa; however, populations are still very patchy. Also consider other defoliators in soybean right now that might compound stress during pod set.
We share reports of aphid outbreaks in soybeans in MN. Numbers are up in Iowa. Also, have you noticed big, metallic green beetles? Japanese beetles are out in Iowa.
“Apres moi, le deluge” is legendary quote from King Louis XV of France. Allegedly he said this with regard to what would happen to France after his death; After me, the flood. 15 years after a reign that saw the loss of wars, territory etc., the French Revolution broke out.
Today on the soybean aphid podcast, we turn this title around (after the rains, us) to discuss the consequences of the June rains that have dropped as much as 6 inches in a 72 hour period. Unlike the terrible decisions of King Louis, these rains can have a benefit to farms by limiting the impact of some pests, especially those in the soil. However, the rains have made it difficult to get into fields for herbicide applications.
We discuss the rain, its impact on pests, and the upcoming Pollinator Festival at Rieman Gardens in Ames this Saturday June, 20.
Also, help us come up with a new name for out podcast. Send your suggestions to Matt at oneal at iastate.edu and/or Erin at ewh at iastate.edu.
Today is the first day of school at Iowa State and campus is buzzing. Matt and Erin talk about persisting soybean aphid populations in Iowa and why fields need to be scouted. If you have questions or ideas for sharing podcasts, please contact them (oneal@iastate.edu or ewh@iastate.edu).
In this episode, Matt and Erin transition from providing weekly field crop pest updates to other topics of interest. They discuss the new assessment form provided by the Xerces Society to help farmers understand the value of beneficial insect conservation. Find the form here: http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/HAG_BeneficialInsects_June2015_web.pdf
In this episode, Matt starts by sharing some of the night life stops in Dubuque, Iowa. Erin talks about common nuisance invaders moving into homes during this extended fall weather. Learn more about how to manage these pests here: http://bit.ly/1P3KcX2. For most of the time, Matt and Erin talk about a recent editorial letter in Nature Biotechnology (October 2015). The author(s) share a story of a recent scientist that accepted funding from industry and the unexpected implications from the public. Read the letter here: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v33/n10/full/nbt.3384.html.
In this episode, Matt and Erin summarize a symposium they moderated at the national ESA meeting in Minneapolis. The topic was about the cost and benefits of neonic seed treatments from several different perspectives.
In this episode, Matt and Erin talk about upcoming events, pest activity updates and research projects. Erin is organizing a Corn Insects Workshop on July 29. Learn more and register here: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/feel/insect.html. There is a 50-person cap, so register now if you want a space! Erin had several reports of pea aphid in alfalfa, but most farmers decided to cut instead of spray. Learn how to identify aphids in alfalfa here: http://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2016/05/aphids-showing-alfalfa. Erin also saw a few aphid mummies in clover and they both experienced honeydew dripping from a tree on campus this week. Matt talked a bit about planting conditions for his wasp and bee projects, noting compaction and crusting in some commercial soybean fields.
As the tagline for the new movie, Popstar, says: Never Stop Never Stopping!
Today, Erin gives a short note to announce the new podcasting widget. It will be located on their Soybean Entomology Lab website, where other resources are available. You can still subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Stitcher or Pocket Casts. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Matt and Erin interview the 2016 Gunderson Memorial Seminar speaker, Dr. Ric Bessin. Ric is a professor and extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky. His areas of extension and research interests range from row crops to specialty crops, and has a focus on IPM. Their conversation starts off talking about agriculture in Kentucky compared to Iowa.
He also shares observations about early season pests, like wireworms, and moves to brown marmorated stink bug, an invasive species causing havoc in Kentucky. Ric was also a Peace Corps volunteer before graduate school, and where he spent time beekeeping. He shares an interesting story about using bees to help with pain management.
