Farmer's Cooperative Association
Oil Spill, Control and Countermeasure Info for Farmers
The following fact sheet will assist you, as a farmer, in understanding your obligations under the SPCC Program for oil spill, control and countermeasures. Click here to view the SPCC Program Information for farmers.
Information Submitted by Tim Borstad , FCA’s Energy Department Manager.
Upcoming Events in Southern MN
Greetings! Please click here to view the attached for announcements of several upcoming events in southern MN, as well as a request for Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) samples and a few notes on soybean aphids.
Information submitted by Randy Lopau, FCA’s Seed Specialist. Information from the SouthWest Minnesota Extensions Office.
Soybean & Cabbage Looper
Soybean Looper (Psuedoplusia includens)
Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni)
IntroductionSoybean loopers are commonly found throughout the southern United States and in South and Central America. It feeds on many different cultivated crops including cotton, tobacco, tomato, peanut and sweet potatoes. Cabbage loopers are found throughout the United States. It also feeds on a variety of host plants, which include cotton, beans, tomatoes, soybean and lettuce. Both soybean and cabbage looper are normally controlled by a host of natural controls including predators, parasites and entomopathogens. These controls normally maintain the looper population below damaging levels. However, when the populations of these natural controls are reduced as they are with repeated insecticide applications, the looper population can explode and cause serious defoliation. In cotton, this most often occurs near the end of the season when defoliation is of little consequence. But, looper populations can reach treatment levels earlier when defoliation can seriously impact yield. So looper populations can not be ignored and must be scouted. |
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IdentificationThese images are somewhat deceptive because cabbage and soybean loopers are normally very difficult to tell apart. They are both green with white stripes. Each has no prolegs on the majority of their abdominal segments, which results in a looping motion. Both are also about 1½ inches long at maturity. On occasion, the soybean looper may have black thoracic legs (true legs), but some do not so this is not a reliable diagnostic tool. Adult: Both adults have about a 1½-inch wingspan. The cabbage looper is mottled brown with two white or silver spots near the center of the forewing that looks like a figure eight. The soybean looper is also mottled brown with two silver spots near the center of the forewing, which is also occasionally described as a figure eight. |
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. Image courtesy of Dr Ron Smith: Auburn University and University of Georgia IPM image website 
Damage
Both cabbage and soybean looper larvae are defoliators. Both species preferentially feed on the leaf tissue between leaf veins.
Information Submitted by Brian Rangaard FCA Agronomist by Dow Agro Sciences.
Green Cloverworm Pest Discovered
A rare mid-summer soybean pest has been noticed from Central Iowa to Central MN- green cloverworm. It is easily controlled by Lorsban or Cobalt. A general threshold is 20% leaf defoliation. But likely the Lorsban/Cobalt aphid treatment will get the job done quickly, regardless of threshold.
Check out this information found at The Iowa State University
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2010/0712hodgson.htm
Information Submitted by Randy Lopau FCA’s Seed specialist. Information from Iowa State Extension office.
Soybeen Aphids Scouting
When should soybean aphid scouting start?
Historically, scouting on a widespread basis before the end of June has not been needed in Minnesota. Soybean aphids leaving buckthorn can colonize very small soybean plants (V1-V2). However, it takes some time for SBA populations to colonize fields and reach yield-threatening levels. Aphid numbers on individual plants build up and then decline as winged aphids leave to colonize new plants. Meanwhile the frequency of infested plants continues to climb in a field. It’s not until most plants in a field are colonized (>80%) that populations began to take off. Now’s the time to pick an indicator field, or two, that you could scout on a regular basis to monitor aphid population dynamics.
Which fields should be scouted first?
Previous experience will probably suggest some local fields tend to have aphid problems earlier than others. Initial colonization from buckthorn reflects proximity and planting date. Fields in proximity to buckthorn, especially smaller fields tend to see earlier aphid population development. Earlier planting dates are initially colonized more intensively than later-planted fields. Another common observation is that heavier infestations may occur in fields with coarser textured soils and/ or with lower potassium levels. Moisture stress tends to favor early-season soybean aphid colonization and buildup. Regardless of the reason, you can use these “indicator fields” keep track of aphid population dynamics.
Field borders are colonized more quickly than field interiors. Start out by monitoring field edges. A lack of aphids on field edges indicates a low probability of aphids in the field interior. Remember, windbreaks in the center of a field are an edge. Hot spots in a field may develop based on factor listed earlier but remember that you’re making decisions for the whole field.
How should I scout for aphids?
Scout the outside rows of a field first. During vegetative and early reproductive stages, look for aphids on the upper two leaves and new leaves on any branches. Ants and ladybird beetles can top you off to the presence of aphids. Unless over 70% of the plants are infested, it’s not worth scouting the rest of the field. If over 70% of the plants are infested, use speed scouting to rapidly assess whether the field should be treated. Field testing of speed scouting in 2005 revealed that it prematurely reached treatment decisions, typically ca. 160 aphids per plant rather than the threshold of 250 aphids per plant. To ensure the population is actually increasing, we recommend that the field be re-checked in 3 to 4 days.
How many soybean aphids are too many?
The economic or treatment threshold is reached when an increasing soybean aphid population averages 250 aphids/plant with at least 80% of the plants infested. This threshold refers to a field average, and not field borders or hotspots. The economic threshold is reached well in advance (7 days or more) of when cumulative aphid injury causes yield loss. That leaves some time to verify that populations are increasing and accommodate minor treatment delays from busy applicator schedules or adverse weather. The threshold has been verified under many growing conditions and from vegetative soybean through seed set (R5). Anecdotal yield losses may be also reduced by insecticide applications to heavy aphid infestations during seed fill (R6), but no research has been conducted at these later soybean stages.
Should the treatment threshold be lowered for small plants?
Soybeans have a tremendous capacity to compensate for early season stress. There is no data to suggest that threshold should be lower for young plants. It’s not uncommon to see isolated young plants or hot spots where aphid populations exceed threshold, but these populations need to be prevalent throughout the field and persistent to justify insecticide use. On the other end of the season, data suggests that the threshold should be increased as plants near maturity (R6).
What about insurance treatments against low-level infestations?
Insurance treatments for soybean aphids appeal to growers for several reasons: previous losses with tardy aphid control, anxiety about waiting for inevitable, avoidance of later-season infestations, protection of plant health, convenience of tankmixing with a post-emergence herbicides, such as RoundUp. We see little utility for insurance treatments against soybean aphid. Aphid populations vary widely from field to field, as does the timing of infestations. Applying insecticides to unscouted or low-level infestations is a recipe for problems. First, fields may not need treatment so growers waste their money.
Second, early applications do not prevent subsequent colonization since any residual toxicity or repellency is gone in less than a week. There is only a temporary reprieve in scouting effort. Don’t walk away from any sprayed field for the rest of the season. Third, early applications eliminate natural enemies and may actually increase the chances of needing to treat later in the season. Fourth, unnecessary insecticide use enhances the chance that insecticide resistance will develop in aphids or other soybean pests, such as two-spotted spider mites.
My soybean seed was treated with an insecticide. Do I still need to scout?
Yes. Research indicates that direct toxicity of neo-nicotinoid seed treatments and effects on aphid reproduction are gone within 40-50 days after planting. While these seed treatments suppress early-season buildup of aphids, they provide no protection against later colonization. Yield-limiting populations can develop in fields treated with neo nicotinoid (e.g. Cruiser, Gaucho) insecticides after mid July. These fields should still be scouted.
How often do I need to scout?
Under ideal conditions aphid populations can double every 2-3 days. Using this maximum reproductive rate allows an estimation of how frequently a field should be scouted. For example, a field with an average of 100aphids/plant can reach economic threshold in 2-3 days. Barring a large number of aphids immigrating into the field, a field with 10 aphids/plant average should not reach economic threshold for 10 days.
Can I mix an insecticide with herbicide?
Insecticide herbicide tank mixes can work if the timing is correct and soybean canopies are still open. Remember that the optimum water volume for aphid control is higher and pressure higher than for drift free herbicide applications.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Copyright © Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
Submitted by Brian Rangaard FCA Agronomist Authored by Bruce Potter and Ken Ostlie University of Minnesota
Estimated Corn Yield Calculator
| Making plans for storage and marketing of the corn crop often calls for estimating yields before the crop is harvested. Estimating corn yields is done by making this calculation: Number of Ears x Number of Rows x Kernel Row Length. | |
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| Row Width |
[30'' Row \/] |
| Number of harvestable ears in 17 ft 5 in of row |
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| Number of kernel rows around per ear* |
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| Number of kernels per row* |
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| Number of kernels per ear* |
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| * three ear average | |
| [Calculate] | |
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| Estimated Corn Yield |
bushels/acre |
Submitted by DeLon Clarksean CCA/TSP FCA Agronomist.
MN Growing Degree Unit Update
Growing Degree Units (GDUs) or Growing Degree Days (GDDs) are useful to predict crop maturity and pest development. For the current Minnesota Growing Degree units click below.
Information Submitted by Randly Lopau (FCA Seed Specialist) from Syngenta Newsletter.
SW Minnesota Integrated Pest Management
Maxtron Enviro-Edge SAE 5w-40 Full Synthetic
SAE 5w-40 Full Synthetic safeguards hardworking engines and advanced emission systems while reducing their carbon footprints.
Maxtron Enviro-EDGE delivers proven fuel efficiency improvements of 1.2% in all driving conditions and up to 3% during cold starts*. In critical Cummins and Mack performance tests Maxtron Enviro-EDGE exceeded the industry requirements by as much as 30%. During cold starts, it provides excellent protection compared with conventional SAE 15W-40.
Outstanding Payouts of Maxtron Enviro-Edge include:
- Conserves the Enviroment and Energy Resources
- Outstanding Low Temperature Pumpability
- Prolongs Diesel Engine Life
- Outstanding Wear Protection
- Superior Soot & Viscosity Control
- Excellent Oil Consumpation Control
- Promotes Extended Drains
- Safeguards Engines in All Weather Conditions
- Improves Fuel Economy
- Reduces Costs
*Dynamometer Improved Fuel Efficiency test results: 1.7% city, 1.2% highway, 3.1% cold start, 1.4% hot start, Actual results may vary based on equipment and operation conditions.
Learn More
Fuel Economy Comparisons
Test Results and Savings
The Story Behind the Innovation
Information Submited by Tim Borstad (FCA’s Energy Manager) from Cenex a brand of CHS.
