Hefty Seed Company - Daily Crop Scouting Reports

Soybeans are in R2 (full flower) stage in the area. From now until R3 (first pod) is the best time to be applying a fungicide to protect against diseases. This is especially true if you've had any recent hail damage to your beans because damaged leaves are entry points for disease pathogens.
- Joe Gustafson

Photo: Joe Gustafson & Randy Williams

We are just starting to see a few aphids in the area. I am still seeing a few green clover worms out in the beans as well. Any organophosphate or pyrethroid will knock both of these pests out.
- Lee Fischer

Photo: Mike Drey, Rob Fritz & Lee Fischer

I found two aphids on a soybean plant today just east of Davis. Any of the insecticides will control soybean aphids. Pyrethroids will have a slower knockdown and longer residual, and organophosates will have fast knockdown with a shorter residual window.
- Steve Lee

I found low aphids numbers this morning around Wakonda. It wasn’t enough to warrant spraying, but we will probably need to in a couple days. Also, now is the time to be adding in a fungicide like Domark @ 2.5 oz. with your insecticide.
- Travis Boerger

Photo: Steve Lee, Travis Boerger & John Christensen

We've had a problem with glyphosate not doing an effective job when sprayed later than 8 p.m. with heavy dew coming on. Try to spray earlier in the evening if you can. Also, we haven’t seen much for aphids in soybeans yet, but keep scouting.
- Chad Waldner

I was walking soybean fields today and haven't found any aphids around our area yet. When they do come to threshold, any of the pyrethroids will do a good job.
- Brian Mettler

Photo: Brian Mettler & Chad Waldner

If you are done spraying certain products and have some left, return them to us so we can send them back to our distributors.
- Kyle Hawkinson

Photo: Colby Kaup & Kyle Hawkinson

There are a few striped flea beetles working sunflower fields out west. Numbers seem to be less than threshold levels, but if an herbicide application is planned, an insecticide should definitely be considered. Organophosphate insecticides are more effective at controlling flea beetles.
- Jason Leyendecker

Photo: Alan Williams & Jason Leyendecker

Watch for rootless corn syndrome.
- Russ Lutters

Photo: Norland Hofer

No Crop Report for Today.

I have not heard of any bean leaf beetles or aphids in the Watertown area. However, I would keep scouting because the bug situation can change in a hurry.
- Russ Werning

Photo: Jack Beutler, Jess Lindner, Matt Falck & Russ Werning

Aphid numbers are still way low. Just keep a close eye out for them because it only takes a few days for them to multiply to an infestation rate of hundreds per plant.
- Grant Loff

Photo: Grant Loff & Tammy Link

Corn has now reached and is even surpassing the VT to R1 stage. With many leaf diseases being reported in Iowa and farther south, it may not be a bad idea to apply a fungicide. With corn safely in this stage, now would be a great time to apply.
- Mike Bates

We’re seeing some defoliation and insect feeding in soybeans, but aphids are still not at threshold numbers. Meanwhile, we’ve been seeing lots of aerial applications of fungicide.
- Steve Draper

Photo: Mike Bates, Steve Draper & Hans Hinrichsen

Think coverage when applying insecticides and fungicides. In most cases, flat fan nozzles or dual flat fan nozzles are your best options. I suggest using 15-20 gallons/acre of water with these applications.
- Eric Rice

Aphids are in the area, but numbers vary dramatically. The highest counts in the area thus far are around 150 per plant. We are really seeing certain soybean varieties that are more susceptible to aphids. Make sure to scout your fields every couple of days because numbers can multiply fast.
- Nathan DuHoux

Photo: Eric Rice & Nathan DuHoux

If you are not finding aphids, don’t add an insecticide just because you are spraying your second time. All you will do is kill all the beneficial bugs that help keep the aphid population down.
- Kent Brolsma

Photo: Todd Traynor

We will have to start checking for soybean aphids on a more regular basis over the next few weeks. The most consistent numbers and highest counts are in the Minneota to Porter areas. They still will probably not have to spray until next week in those areas since we are just finding them on random plants. A 3.84 oz rate of Silencer or 3.8 oz rate of Leverage will do a nice job and leave a good residual.
- Mike Homandberg

Photo: John Wiese, Mike Homandberg & Dave Timmerman

Hopefully all your weeds are under control, but this is the most critical time of year to scout your fields for diseases and insects. Take 20 minutes to look at each field. Identifying problems and treating for aphids or other pests is well worth your time. Aphid populations are low in most areas but that can change quickly. Keep a regular schedule of scouting at least every other day to observe changes. There are several good products to choose from, and we can help you decide which one is right for your field and situation. Protect your investment.
- Dean Simonsen

Photo: Dustin Krick

There are a few aphids showing up in the area. Keep scouting your fields.
- Kevin Harder

Agronomist Kevin Harder

The aphids are here. We are hearing reports of 10-50 aphids per plant. Now is the time to plan your insecticide program.
- Roger Elliott

As you are making that last glyphosate application on your soybeans, make sure to increase your rates to control larger weeds. Also scout for aphids before spraying and add insecticide to your tank mix. Over the last two days, we have seen aphids rapidly moving into the area.
- Dean Christiansen

Photo: Dean Christiansen, B. Sham Moteelall & Roger Elliott

To prepare your bin sites for harvest time, spray Tempo in and around the bins you will use for grain storage. Spray around the outside, the inside, and up the walls to get rid of insect pests.
- Brian Schlagel

Photo: Brian Schlagel & David Smith

Before spraying sugar beets, it is important to know whether or not you are going to be feeding your beet tops because certain products have longer residuals than others. These products with longer residuals can be detrimental to cattle’s health.
- Stephanie Garvey

Photo: Paul Gebhardt & Barry Holzworth

I had some questions about Leverage 360 today. It's an insecticide, and the use rate for aphids in soybeans is 2.8 oz.
- Sara Cibert

Photo: Sara Cibert

Aphids are not showing up in any numbers yet. I have only found small numbers of aphids just south of Ashton so far. Corn fungicide will start going on later this week. The silks should start turning tannish and brown so we know pollination is finished. Consider using fungicide on corn-on-corn acres because these fields will have more disease pressure. Headline, Quilt, or Stratego are all good product choices to apply.
- Leon Bolkema

Photo: Tim Overmire, Leon Bolkema & Adam Sauer

We’ve had reports of aphids coming in, so check your alfalfa and potato fields.
- Van Wiebe

Photo: Mark "Zach" Zacharisen & Van Wiebe

Clean out your sprayers really well with Incide-out tank cleaner.
- Chad Doggett

Photo: Chad Doggett

If spraying for aphids, you can add a half rate of Stratego or Headline for extra protection.
- Gene Mittleider

Photo: Gene Mittleider

This is the time of year for plot tours. It's a chance for growers to see what varieties and herbicides are doing well. Take the time to visit with the company reps about any problems that you are having with weeds on your farm.
- George Heller

Field peas are starting to mature, so it is time to think about desiccating using Firestorm or RT3.
- Jason Huber

Photo: Wayne Drangsholt & George Heller

If you are looking to gain some bushels on your soybeans, you could use Stratego or Quilt at the R2 to R3 stage. We have seen 4-5 bushel gains by using this application.
- Blake Younggren

Photo: Blake Younggren and Bryan Younggren

For spot-spraying of Canada thistles, use 32 to 48 oz of RT3. Also tankmix Load Out at one quart per 100 gallons of water to help maximize glyphosate efficiency.
- Jeff Bruce

Photo: Jeff Bruce

Double crop edible beans need to be sprayed. We are using Raptor and Basagran to control most weeds.
- Sam Krautscheid

Photo: Sam Krautscheid

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