Cropping Issues in Northwest Minnesota

The problem. A couple of weeks ago an email was forwarded to me from another Extension employee that had fielded a call from a local ag service provider. The service provider was seeking guidance after having visited a client’s soybean field and encountering plants exhibiting unfamiliar symptoms. What was particularly puzzling (and worrying) to the service provider was that plants appeared to have symptoms caused by Phytophthora sojae but the soybean variety had both field or adult-plant resistance and pathotype or race-specific resistance genes to P. sojae . Bacterial cells and either spores of true fungi or fungus-like organisms like Phytophthora are individuals in a much larger population. During processes such as the genetic recombination that occurs during sexual reproduction and the random mutations that occur during cell division, new spores will be genetically different from their siblings. Some may be better able to survive and cause disease on plants that have g

P repared by Phillip Glogoza and Jochum Wiersma  Wheat Stem Sawfly is still infesting wheat in northwest Minnesota. Areas affected last year are now showing symptoms of  this year's  infestations. Wheat stems are lodging as the sawfly larvae cut the base of the stem. Polk County is the area of greatest concentration, but reports beyond the Crookston areaar   e also coming in. We are asking ALL wheat growers in the northwest region to report on if they find lodged stems , their location (Latitude-Longitude or Legal description), and some estimate of cut stems per row foot. Also, indicate where in the field (usually the edge, but how far in is useful knowledge).  We are trying to determine how big an area is impacted by this insect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submit your information to:      Phillip Glogoza, UMN Extension Educator - Crops       glogo001@umn.edu      or,      Jochum Wiersma, UMN Extension Small Grains Spec

Welcome to the 5th IPM Podcast for Field Crops – this Podcast is sponsored by the UMN Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. During the past week soybean aphid populations have been increasing in several soybean fields, in southern and northwest production areas of Minnesota. Consequently, this is the time of year when fields should be scouted for soybean aphid, to determine if treatment is warranted. In this week’s podcast we feature Dr. Bob Koch, Extension Entomologist , to provide an update on the status of soybean aphid infestations in Minnesota, as well as current IPM recommendations.

Soybean aphid infestations are developing: Recommendations for scouting and managing insecticide resistance by Robert Koch (Extension Entomologist), Bruce Potter (Extension IPM Specialist), Phil Glogoza (Regional Extension Educator) Scouting for soybean aphids in Minnesota soybean fields should be underway. While aphid populations are low in most fields, we have received reports of increasing soybean aphid numbers. In parts of central Minnesota, some of these fields are nearing threshold levels and will likely require insecticide treatment soon to protect yield. Early-planted soybean in areas with moderate rainfall this year might see significant aphid populations first. However, aphids are now spreading to other fields putting them at risk too. Below, we provide an overview of scouting recommendations and updates on insecticide resistant soybean aphids. Scouting and threshold: How will you know if any of your soybean fields are at economic risk from soybean aphid? The decision t

It is that time of year when soybean aphid populations require monitoring. We have been scouting fields across the region for three weeks now. As aphids colonize fields and increase their numbers, it becomes a great time to begin scouting and start to track the population's progress over the next five weeks. The joint MN-ND soybean survey map provides a regional perspective on where early aphid activity is underway.

This Minnesota Department of Agriculture news release was published by MDA media communications specialist Margaret Hart on July 6, 2018.  Please direct questions to Ms. Hart at: (651) 201-6131 or Margaret.Hart@state.mn.us Minnesota farmers affected by the recent flooding can take advantage of a zero-percent Disaster Loan Program offered by the Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA). The program helps farmers cover flood clean-up, repair, and replacement costs not covered by insurance. The severe summer storms, which began on June 9, 2018, have caused significant flooding and damage to farm property in the Red Lake Nation and 36 counties including Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Jackson, Kittson, Lake, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, Mille Lacs, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, St. Louis, Waseca, and Watonwan. The loans can be u

Photo credit: Lorri Ann Hartel Next week the University of Minnesota will be hosting several plot tours and all are welcome to attend. Small Grains Plot Tours. Small grains plot tours will be hosted throughout the region next week beginning at 8:30 AM on Monday, July 16 at the John Walkup Farm in Fergus Falls .  On Tuesday, July 17 at 9 AM the plot tour will visit the Swenson Seed Farm in Oklee . The tour will then travel further north and west to the Neil and Mark Wiese farm in Hallock on Friday, July 20 at 9 AM. The last tour stop is at the Jim Kukowski Seed Farm in Strathcona on Friday, July 20 beginning at noon. Presenters at each location may include small grains agronomist Jochum Wiersma, small grains plant pathologist Madeline Smith and crops educators Jared Goplen specializing in weed management, Phil Glogoza specializing in pest management and Angie Peltier specializing in disease management. Click here to access a copy of the small grains plot tour brochure

Source: Dr. Sam Markell, NDSU Etension Plant Pathologist               NDSU Crop and Pest Report, No. 11, July 13, 2017 As we experience the current period of extensive rains and the initiation of flowering in soybean, it is appropriate to review white mold risk and management at this time. Here is a discussion from Dr. Sam Markell, NDSU Extension Plant Pathologist, published last year that will serve as a good starting point for this year. -  Phillip Glogoza, UMN Extension Educator - Crops  White Mold Review Many other factors will help determine how much of a concern white mold will be in field, such as temperature and canopy wetness during bloom, disease history, canopy density and variety susceptibility. As a result, assessing your risk for white mold is very important in managing the disease.