Prevent Pests From Feeding On Your Soybean & Cotton Profits
Jul 22, 2020
SOYBEANS
If you’re observing insect pressure in your soybean crop at this point in the growing season , Fox says it’s likely coming in the form of stink bugs or a host of different moth larvae.
“Green and brown stink bugs are of concern in most seasons , and the mild winter we experienced certainly didn’t help quell overwintering populations this year ,” he explains. “Fortunately , Tundra® insecticide can provide excellent control of these pests , and it also offers some residual protection.”
Redbanded stink bug , which has reached into the mid-South after troubling the Gulf States for some time , can cause more damage than its green and brown cousins. Unfortunately it isn’t as susceptible to insecticides , either.
“While Tundra is one of the more effective pyrethroid insecticides against redbanded stink bug , you’ll want to use something with two modes of action to optimize control , like Endigo® ZC insecticide , which is a pre-mix of Karate Z® and Centric® 40WG insecticides ,” Fox advises.
Soybeans are susceptible to stink bug damage until the beans reach maturity. For most stink bugs , the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture recommends using an economic threshold of 9 per 25 sweeps or 1 per foot of row.1For redbanded stink bugs , a lower threshold of 6 per 25 sweeps or 1 per foot of row is recommended.2
Whether you call them podworms , earworms or bollworms , these larvae have also been known to cause problems at this stage in the growing season. So if you find a stink bug/worm complex when scouting your fields , Fox says broad-spectrum Besiege® insecticide will be a good choice. With two active ingredients , the multiple modes of action provide control via contact , ingestion and ovicidal activity (egg-killing) , and it offers long-lasting residual control. The recommended economic threshold for corn earworm is 15 per 25 sweeps or 4 per foot of row. Other larvae , like soybean looper and green cloverworm should be treated when thresholds reach 29 per 25 sweeps or 6 per foot of row.1
“Whichever insecticides you select for your fields , be sure to select the proper adjuvant package to increase leaf coverage and canopy penetration ,” he adds.
For optimum performance , use a quality nonionic surfactant such as Preference® or Class Act® NG® adjuvants. Also be sure to include InterLock® adjuvant – a powerful deposition , spray penetration and drift-reduction agent that will help keep more active ingredient on target.
Your local GreenPoint AG specialist is your best resource for determining which insecticides , rates and tank mix partners will provide the best results for your soybean acres , so don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
COTTON
“Cotton producers should also be wary of pressure from pests at this point in the season – primarily piercing and sucking insects like aphids , fleahoppers and plant bugs ,” Fox notes. “Bollworms can also be of concern though , so be sure to keep a lookout for them when scouting.”
Advise® Four insecticide is a popular treatment among many cotton producers , but it’s a better fit when used early and late in the season. Instead , consider using products like Transform® 40WG insecticide or Centric 40WG with Diamond® insecticide at this stage. Both options can provide good control of plant bugs , fleahoppers and aphids , but Fox says it’s important to avoid wiping out beneficial insects. Yield-damaging pests like spider mites can flare up later in the season if insects like ladybugs and lacewings aren't around to feed on them.
Cotton should be treated during the first week of squaring if four bugs are found per 50 sweeps of the net. Apply insecticides after the fruiting period when six to eight bugs are found per 50 sweeps.
If bollworms are present in your crop , Besiege insecticide is an excellent option. Treatment is recommended when six to seven eggs or three small worms are present per 100 plants during early bloom. That said , many cotton consultants are being proactive and treating as soon as eggs or worms are observed.
Although a treatment during the pre-bloom period may assist with prevention , it’s discouraged because it can destroy the many beneficial forms that keep bollworms and other pests under control.
“As mentioned earlier , a quality adjuvant package will help ensure you achieve good coverage and canopy penetration ,” Fox reiterates. “So when consulting your local GreenPoint AG specialist for assistance in selecting the right insecticides and appropriate rates for your operation , you can count on them to recommend adding products like Preference and InterLock adjuvants to your tank mix to improve overall performance.”
“And depending on the timing of your insecticide application , you might find there’s also an optimal opportunity to have plant tissue samples evaluated by NutriSolutions® tissue analysis ,” he concludes. “Doing this right before key growth stages will pinpoint nutrient deficiencies that you can correct by adding a recommended formulation from the MAX-IN® line of plant micronutrients to your tank mix.”
1 https://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/mp197/chapter12.pdf
2 https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7078.pdf
If you’re observing insect pressure in your soybean crop at this point in the growing season , Fox says it’s likely coming in the form of stink bugs or a host of different moth larvae.
“Green and brown stink bugs are of concern in most seasons , and the mild winter we experienced certainly didn’t help quell overwintering populations this year ,” he explains. “Fortunately , Tundra® insecticide can provide excellent control of these pests , and it also offers some residual protection.”
Redbanded stink bug , which has reached into the mid-South after troubling the Gulf States for some time , can cause more damage than its green and brown cousins. Unfortunately it isn’t as susceptible to insecticides , either.
“While Tundra is one of the more effective pyrethroid insecticides against redbanded stink bug , you’ll want to use something with two modes of action to optimize control , like Endigo® ZC insecticide , which is a pre-mix of Karate Z® and Centric® 40WG insecticides ,” Fox advises.
Soybeans are susceptible to stink bug damage until the beans reach maturity. For most stink bugs , the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture recommends using an economic threshold of 9 per 25 sweeps or 1 per foot of row.1For redbanded stink bugs , a lower threshold of 6 per 25 sweeps or 1 per foot of row is recommended.2
Whether you call them podworms , earworms or bollworms , these larvae have also been known to cause problems at this stage in the growing season. So if you find a stink bug/worm complex when scouting your fields , Fox says broad-spectrum Besiege® insecticide will be a good choice. With two active ingredients , the multiple modes of action provide control via contact , ingestion and ovicidal activity (egg-killing) , and it offers long-lasting residual control. The recommended economic threshold for corn earworm is 15 per 25 sweeps or 4 per foot of row. Other larvae , like soybean looper and green cloverworm should be treated when thresholds reach 29 per 25 sweeps or 6 per foot of row.1
“Whichever insecticides you select for your fields , be sure to select the proper adjuvant package to increase leaf coverage and canopy penetration ,” he adds.
For optimum performance , use a quality nonionic surfactant such as Preference® or Class Act® NG® adjuvants. Also be sure to include InterLock® adjuvant – a powerful deposition , spray penetration and drift-reduction agent that will help keep more active ingredient on target.
Your local GreenPoint AG specialist is your best resource for determining which insecticides , rates and tank mix partners will provide the best results for your soybean acres , so don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
COTTON
“Cotton producers should also be wary of pressure from pests at this point in the season – primarily piercing and sucking insects like aphids , fleahoppers and plant bugs ,” Fox notes. “Bollworms can also be of concern though , so be sure to keep a lookout for them when scouting.”
Advise® Four insecticide is a popular treatment among many cotton producers , but it’s a better fit when used early and late in the season. Instead , consider using products like Transform® 40WG insecticide or Centric 40WG with Diamond® insecticide at this stage. Both options can provide good control of plant bugs , fleahoppers and aphids , but Fox says it’s important to avoid wiping out beneficial insects. Yield-damaging pests like spider mites can flare up later in the season if insects like ladybugs and lacewings aren't around to feed on them.
Cotton should be treated during the first week of squaring if four bugs are found per 50 sweeps of the net. Apply insecticides after the fruiting period when six to eight bugs are found per 50 sweeps.
If bollworms are present in your crop , Besiege insecticide is an excellent option. Treatment is recommended when six to seven eggs or three small worms are present per 100 plants during early bloom. That said , many cotton consultants are being proactive and treating as soon as eggs or worms are observed.
Although a treatment during the pre-bloom period may assist with prevention , it’s discouraged because it can destroy the many beneficial forms that keep bollworms and other pests under control.
“As mentioned earlier , a quality adjuvant package will help ensure you achieve good coverage and canopy penetration ,” Fox reiterates. “So when consulting your local GreenPoint AG specialist for assistance in selecting the right insecticides and appropriate rates for your operation , you can count on them to recommend adding products like Preference and InterLock adjuvants to your tank mix to improve overall performance.”
“And depending on the timing of your insecticide application , you might find there’s also an optimal opportunity to have plant tissue samples evaluated by NutriSolutions® tissue analysis ,” he concludes. “Doing this right before key growth stages will pinpoint nutrient deficiencies that you can correct by adding a recommended formulation from the MAX-IN® line of plant micronutrients to your tank mix.”
1 https://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/mp197/chapter12.pdf
2 https://www.uaex.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7078.pdf