Education
The heat is making field work challenging and podcasting an attractive alternative. Erin covers a lot of ground, recapping reports of increasing (though sub-economic) soybean aphid populations, rootworm injury and new additions to the insects found in corn and soybean fields, including skipper sightings in soybeans (https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/erin-hodgson/have-you-spotted-skipper). The hot and dry conditions in the western half of the state is making it challnging for corn and soybeans. We've seen this issue in the past, and this article reviews how to address spider mites that may be exacerbated by these weather conditions: https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2018/08/you-%E2%80%9Cmite%E2%80%9D-want-scout-drought-stressed-crops Matt highlights some observations from a cannabis farm, in which a Eurasian Hemp Borer was observed on several plants. A summary of this pests biology, ecology and management can be found in this factsheet from the Colorado State University: https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/hempinsects/PDFs/Eurasian%20hemp%20borer%20September%202018%20rewrite(1).pdf On 23 July, 2020, Matt is speaking at a webinar sponsored by the Liberty Prairie Foundation. He wil talk about how the prairie strips practive in the Conservation Reserve Program (CP-43) can conserve pollinators on farm land. Details about this webinar and others hosted by the Liberty Prairie Foundation can be found here: http://libertyprairie.org/calendar/. Please feel free to join the webinar. See you next week and stay safe.