Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve talk about agronomic issues from the recent heavy rains in early May 2023 and early-season insect issues with Bruce Potter, IPM Extension Specialist based out of Lamberton, MN. Potter has been monitoring black cutworm and true armyworm flights as well as alfalfa weevil that may be affecting crops in upcoming weeks. Diseases to watch out for in flooded or wet soils include soybean sudden death syndrome, Pythium, and Fusarium.

Dave Nicholai gives an update on planting progress with Dr. Seth Naeve and discusses weed management tactics early in the season with Dr. Debalin Sarangi. Weeds such as waterhemp are already emerging with the warming temperatures. They focused on herbicide options for weed management, especially how to time pre-emerge and post-emergence options along with possible tank-mix strategies.

Dave Nicolai discusses May planting and potential early-season diseases with U of M Extension plant pathologist Dean Malvick and soybean agronomist Seth Naeve.

It's late April in 2023 and it's still wet and difficult to get field work done across the state. It's a bit too early to discuss much about pests, but as a lead-in to future early-season pest issues that could result from this late spring, it's important to look at agronomic issues related to planting when soils are still cold and wet. Dave Nicolai chats with U of M agronomists Drs. Jeff Coulter and Seth Naeve about current field conditions and when to plant corn and soybeans.  

Dr. Bob Wright with the University of Nebraska discusses with Dr. Anthony Hanson how integrated got its start and Dr. Hanson goes through how we have adapted IPM plans to new invasive pests, such as soybean aphid. The two segments were produced as part of a 50th anniversary of IPM podcast supported by the USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the North Central IPM Center hosted at: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2039018

The IPM Podcast will be going on break in 2023 to focus on producing IPM updates for UMN Extension's Strategic Farming programs. You can contact Anthony Hanson at [email protected] with IPM questions in Minnesota. For Strategic Farming content:

1. Field Notes summer field updates with webinar and podcasts: https://strategicfarming.transistor.fm/
2. Let's Talk Crops winter webinar research updates: https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/strategic-farming-lets-talk-crops

Dr. Trisha Leaf from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pesticide & Fertilizer Division discusses how pesticide regulation works at the federal and state level. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is federal law that governs how pesticides are registered, distributed, sold, and used in the U.S (i.e., "the label is the law"). Recently, tolerances of a common insecticide, chlorpyrifos, were revoked on all food and feed crops and is no longer permitted for agricultural use in 2022. Enlist Duo has also undergone label changes where initially use was not permitted in six MN counties due to endangered species concerns, but after review, use is now permitted after determining those species are not present in those counties.

Dr. Ken Ostlie looks back on his career as a corn entomologist ranging from starting off in the middle of the farming and fiscal crisis of the 80s, how Extension has changed, the introduction of Bt corn, and of course, corn pests. Much of his research directly worked with farmers and he stresses to always remember that farmers are real people out in the environment that are the best resource for telling researchers and educators what farmers need the most. Dr. Ostlie will still be around from time to time as an emeritus professor.

Soybean breeding can be a complicated process, but it is one of the tools used for research at the U of M to manage pests such as soybean cyst nematode, soybean aphid, and diseases like Phytophthora root rot. More information on and availability of publicly available U of MN crop varieties can be found at: https://www.mncia.org/.

Common insects infested stored grains can include weevils, India meal moth, and mold feeding insects. Indian meal moth larvae leave behind tell-tale webbing that causes clumping in grain and can be especially noticeable when you skim the top of an infested grain pile with your hand. For more information on managing stored grain pests, visit: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2021/09/prevent-stored-grain-pest-issues-before.html