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Stay on top of aphid populations

Soybean farmers are being reminded to stay on top of aphid populations.

University of Minnesota Extension crops educator Dave Nicolai says the number of aphids in a field can double and even triple in a week’s time.

“I would be looking at these fields every three to four days.  I know it’s nice to go on vacation, but it’s good to be having someone to monitor if you can’t do that because numbers can increase rapidly.”

The economic threshold is 250 aphids per plant.  Nicolai tells Brownfield growers are probably wasting money if they treat before that.

“When we talk about an injury level, it’s much higher.  The economic threshold is set deliberately low so that people have an opportunity to go out in the field or make their product choices and get ready to go.”

He says aerial insecticide treatments are common in southwest Minnesota as aphid populations continue to rise.