Soybean Aphid
Soybean aphids will continue to pose a risk to upper Midwest soybean fields that are prior to the R6 growth stage in the next week and into next weekend. Scattered fields have required treatment especially west of the Mississippi River and generally north of US 20. Moderate risks continue in the next week for the eastern Dakotas, northern Iowa, much of Minnesota, and far western Wisconsin. Low risks extend from the central Dakotas into far northeast Nebraska, northern Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, far northern Illinois, and also into lower Michigan and southern Ontario, Canada. Growers with fields that are at or prior to the R5 growth stage are encouraged to regularly scout fields in the next week or so until that field reaches the R6 growth stage. Soybean aphid populations have rapidly increased in just a few days’ time in the last week given favorable weather conditions in some areas. Any treatment decisions should be made based on what population dynamics are doing in the specific field of concern and not necessarily what even an adjacent field may be seeing or what the local coffee shop gossip is saying.