Dectes Stem Borer Observed in Soybean

Jun 30, 2023

By Adam Varenhorst

For the last few years, we have received an increase in the number of Dectes stem borer reports in soybean. Through a grant funded by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, we are surveying soybeans across eastern South Dakota for Dectes stem borer. To date, we have observed Dectes stem borer adult activity in the southeastern portion of the state. We will continue scouting for the rest of the season to determine what counties have the highest risk for Dectes stem borer issues in soybean.

Management

Due to the prolonged emergence of adult Dectes stem borers in June through July, it is difficult to reduce populations using foliar insecticides. During 2023, we will be testing several insecticide products applied during July to determine if any provide adequate protection of soybeans. We will provide results when the study is completed.

Source : sdstate.edu

Video: Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes | Field Talk Friday

Field Talk Friday | Dr. John Murphy | Root Exudates, Soil Biology, and How Plants Recruit Microbes

Most of us spend our time managing what we can see above ground—plant height, leaf color, stand counts, and yield potential. But the deeper you dig into agronomy, the more you realize that some of the most important processes driving crop performance are happening just millimeters below the surface.

In this episode of Field Talk Friday, Dr. John Murphy continues the soil biology series by diving into one of the most fascinating topics in modern agronomy: root exudates and the role they play in shaping the microbial world around plant roots.

Roots are not passive structures simply pulling nutrients out of the soil. They are active participants in the underground ecosystem. Plants constantly release compounds into the soil—sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and other molecules—that act as both energy sources and signals for soil microbes.