Pest predictions...

As I see plants coming back to life around Ames, I am also preparing for the upcoming field season. We are planning research at five ISU farms this year, which takes a tremendous amount of planning to get things straight. I am collaborating with a few faculty on campus this year, including Alison Robertson, Matt O’Neal and Aaron Gassmann. Fingers crossed for a productive research season!
Everyone is asking about my predictions for soybean aphid and other insects this year. It is very difficult to say what will happen in corn and soybean at this point. We didn’t have as much snow cover or cold temperatures this winter, and so insects were more likely to be exposed but to warmer weather. I recommend keeping your eyes open for insect activity right around planting and emergence – it will set the tone for potential infestations for the rest of the summer.