New Webinar Helps Ag Professionals Reduce Impact of Pest Defoliation

Defoliation is one of the most readily observed types of insect injury to soybean plants and can impact yield and economic returns—especially when two or more pest species of are present.

The Plant Management Network (PMN) has released a new presentation entitled "Soybean Defoliation" to help growers and crop consultants accurately monitor canopy defoliation and determine when insecticide treatments may be required to minimize economic losses.

The webcast, developed by Thomas E. Hunt, Professor of Entomology and Extension Entomology Specialist at the University of Nebraska Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, reviews the relationship between canopy injury, light interception, and soybean yield.

The presentation also offers guidance on how to:

• Assess leaf damage and estimate defoliation rates
• Use general soybean insect defoliation thresholds
• Incorporate other key factors into pest management decisions

The 27-minute presentation will remain open access in the Focus on Soybean webcast resource.

The Plant Management Network is a nonprofit publisher of applied, science-based resources that help enhance the health, management, and production of agricultural and horticultural crops. Partnering with over 80 universities, nonprofits, and agribusinesses, PMN provides materials covering a wide range of crops and contemporary issues through the online PMN Education Center.


Source: PlantManagementnetwork