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Armyworms, webworms threaten Kansas soybean yield

A crop health expert says he’s closely watching how an increase in insect pressure could impact soybean production this year.

Jarrod Nicholson with Mid Kansas Cooperative says he’s seen damage in the southern parts of the state. “There are a lot of armyworm moths starting to fly around. There’s been webworms here for two to three weeks that have been in the double crop beans, not so much in the full-season, but definitely in the double crop.”

He tells Brownfield it’s not too late to apply a treatment. “Even if you protect two pods on a 100,000 population, you’re still protecting 3 bushel. That’s $30. You’re 3 to 1 ROI just by having that. You can’t plan to fail, right? If you have the potential, we have to use the insecticide.”

Nicholson says growers should talk with their agronomists to determine what products will fit best in their management plan.

Jarrod Nicholson: