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IPM approach to soybean aphids validated

There’s some good news for farmers dealing with soybean aphids while margins remain tight.

University of Minnesota Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist Bruce Potter says a two year, multi-state study validated the effectiveness of the IPM approach of scouting and utilizing foliage-applied insecticide only where necessary.

“I think the other thing is that it’s giving some comfort (to) not going out and putting insurance applications on, both from a resistance-management perspective and also just for the bottom line and grower’s pockets.  Saving some input dollars and saving (those dollars) for things that will give them a better return.”

He tells Brownfield the research, done between 2012 and 2013, focused on how neonicotinoid seed treatments fit into soybean aphid management programs.

“What the data showed is that in a lot of cases we didn’t have aphid populations high enough to cause any yield loss.  What we did see was that while the neonics provide a little bit of a yield benefit, it wasn’t as much as getting that insecticide on in a timely basis.”

The study was a joint effort of Purdue University, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, and the University of Minnesota.