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Nebraska specialist urges careful consideration of insecticide costs

A cropping systems specialist says farmers should weigh the cost of pest control versus the return on investment.

Justin McMechan with the University of Nebraska says confirmations of soybean tentiform leafminer are on the rise. The bug feeds on leaves and creates pale, blotchy or tent-link areas. “We’re talking about it because growers are going to find it in their field. Anything new kind of leads us to “what do we spray? What do we do?” It’s going to be abundant, but I don’t think we’ll see major economic losses. The more people that are aware of it, the less losses we get from unintended sprays.”

McMechan says defoliators are also causing issues. “Japanese beatless feeding at the top of the canopy. Bean leaf beetle maybe feeding on a pod or two. Grasshoppers that are out there. It is rare for me to get into the field and for us to be at a threshold spray.”

He says farmers are also trying to manage pill bugs, but the damage is likely already done. “They’re killing beans early in the season as they emerge. They’re feeding below the growing point as they come out of the ground. Some growers have replanted 2 or 3 times to grow soybeans in their fields. They’re frustrated and asking for help.”

McMechan says there aren’t many options available, but insecticides applied earlier in the season and tillage have had some success.