Volume
2 Issue
10
July 26, 2005
New email
option added to Extension’s Free Farm Information Line
A new twist has been added to the call-in Farm
Information Line, from the University of Minnesota
Extension Service. Farmers needing quick answers can now
email their questions to
fil@umn.edu
and get a response no later than the next
business day.
Red River
Valley Disease Brief
Updates on plant disease activity
within the northwest Minnesota region.
Soybean
Rust Update
Minnesota Report
by Jim Kurle
Leaf spotting diseases, both bacterial blight and
Septoria leaf
spot, have been observed in many soybean fields. No
management actions for controlling soybean rust are
necessary at this time.
The risk of soybean rust in MN is currently
extremely low. In southern US areas where soybean rust has been found,
weather has been favorable for further disease
development.
Soybean
Growth Stages for Pest Management Decisions
Management decisions on whether to treat soybean
aphids or protect plants with fungicides will be affected
by the soybean growth stage in a field during the next
four weeks. As plants progress to the later reproductive
stages (e.g., R5, R6, R7, etc.) risk of yield loss to
either of these pest concerns declines.
Soybean Aphid Update
Increasing numbers of soybean aphid are being reported
throughout the state. Insecticide treatments have begun in
areas to the south. Treatments to the northwest region are
largely limited to the Fergus Falls—Underwood areas at
this writing.
Time for European Corn
Borer Decisions
The single generation-type corn borer has reached the
point where treatment decisions need to be made. There is
still significant acres of non-Bt corn in the region, and
the single generation corn borer can infest and damage
this corn.
Bean Leaf Beetle Making
Their presence Known in Valley
The bean leaf beetle feeds on soybean plants. In
general, they have not established well in northwest
Minnesota, but they have been found in late summer feeding
in local fields.
Thistle
Caterpillars in Soybean and Sunflower
This past week I was called to look at a soybean field
that had a number of thistle caterpillars feeding in the
field. Most of the larvae were 1 inch to 1 1/4 inch
long and were about finished feeding and no significant
damage had occurred. There was a significant flight
into our area according to the black light trap data from
Crookston.
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