Field Days will focus on countering soybean aphid problems - By Jim Nesseth

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The soybean aphid became a menace to Minnesota soybeans last year and is expected to pose a threat again this year. A series of field days designed to help producers deal with soybean aphid problems will take place across southern Minnesota in late June and July. The University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council are sponsoring the events.

“Soybean aphids first appeared in southeast Minnesota in July of 2000 and spread across the entire Minnesota soybean belt by last fall,” says Lisa Behnken, Olmsted County Extension Educator. Approximately 50,000 acres were treated last year.

“Possibly 1.2-1.8 million acres of soybeans could be treated for soybean aphid this year,” according to Dr. Ken Ostlie, University of Minnesota Extension Entomologist. This insect is unlike any other insect that we have seen and its population can double in 2-3 days, causing significant yield reduction. Proper scouting and timely insecticide treatments are the best defenses against this pest. Based on last years results in southeastern Minnesota, insecticide treatments during pod set had the best results. Insecticide treatments too soon or too late will be ineffective and costly. Understanding scouting techniques and economic thresholds will be critical.

Field day topics include the outlook for aphid problems this year, management of the pest, results of research last year by the U of M and other universities, yield reductions, aphid predators, and use of insecticides.

Depending on date and location, speakers include Ken Ostlie, Bruce Potter, Jim Nesseth, and Wayne Schoper. For the latest schedule of soybean aphid field day dates and locations, contact Jim Nesseth at (507) 662-5293 or jnesseth@umn.edu or Bruce Potter at (507) 752-7372 or bpotter@umn.edu. The following dates and locations have been set, with the possibility that others will be added.

Soybean Aphid Meetings

County	Contact	Date	Time	Location
Cottonwood	Marv Zylstra	July 3	10:00 a.m.	New Vision Co-op test plot on Highway 30 by Jeffers, south of the main office.
Rock	Fraser Norton	July 3	1:30 p.m.	Luverne Public School plot, west on Dodge Street, 1/3 mile. It is on the north side of the road, just west of the school bus garage
Weed management tour will follow the Rock County Aphid meeting.
Pipestone	Phil Berg	July 3	10:00 a.m.	At the corn and soybean plots, 2 miles south of Pipestone on Highway 23, across from the weigh scale at Cargill.
Nobles	David Bau	July 8	10:00 a.m.	6 ¼ miles north of Worthington on Highway 59. Parking will be at the Interstate Electrical Power Station off the highway.
Murray	David Bau	July 8	1:30 p.m.	At the Gerald Meier place, 3 ½ miles east on County Road 3, 2 miles north of Fulda on Highway 59.
Lyon	Bob Byrnes	July 9	9:30 a.m.	At the Chuck Buysse place, 2 ¼ miles south of Highway 23 on County Road 7.
Watonwan	Gary Wyatt	July 9	11:00 a.m.	At the Dale and Brad Eckstrom place, 2 miles east of St. James on Highway 60, and ½ mile north on the gravel road.
Lincoln	Bob Byrnes	July 9	12:00 p.m.	At the Bob Worth place, 1 ½ miles east of Lake Benton on Highway 14.
Redwood	Wayne Hansen	July 11	10:00 a.m.	At the Steve Prokosch place, 10 miles south of Redwood Falls on Highway 71 at the junction of 68 and 71.
Brown	Wayne Schoper	July 11	1:30 p.m.	At the John Dallenbach place. Go 7 miles north of Sleepy Eye on Highway 4 Turn west on County Road 30 and go 1 mile. Turn north on 280^th Ave.and go 1 mile. Turn west on 320^th Street and go 1 mile.
Martin	Sandy Syverson	July 12	10:00 a.m.	At the Bill Bulfer place, 2 miles south of the Fairmont fairgrounds on 39.
Jackson	Jim Nesseth	July 12	1:30 p.m.	At the Steve Voss place, 2 ½ miles east of Lakefield on County Road 14.

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This page was created 7/01/02 byB. Potter with assistance from M. Werner.