Since every bushel of grain you produce is now worth a steak dinner and more,
the movement afoot to save every last kernel is growing faster than weeds after
a spring rain.
With soybean prices achieving filet mignon status, growers everywhere are paying
a lot more attention to the crop and the impact of bugs smaller than the pepper
flakes atop that sizzling steak. Just ask Gary Battles, who farms and sells seed
near South Bend, Ind.
"A lot of growers around here learned a big lesson about the value of scouting
during our aphid outbreak in 2003. We saw aphid populations spike in July but
drop in August, so only about 5% of growers sprayed.
"That fall when I hauled the weigh wagon around to harvest what we thought
looked like 50-bushel beans; they weighed in at 25 bushels," Battles says. "But
the guys who scouted and sprayed got an extra 10 to 15 bushels an acre."
Central Iowa agronomist Sheila Hebenstreit of West Central Cooperative in
Jefferson has worked with customers for 25 years to get them to think inside the
fencerow when it comes to scouting.
"You have to get out of the truck or off the 4-wheeler and get down on your
hands and knees. Tiny, hard-to-see pests like flea beetles can do so much
damage," she says. "And last summer's aphid outbreak here really had everyone
walking fields, calling and wanting help."
Further south into Arkansas, longtime crop consultant Charles Denver from Watson
echoes the increased need to scout.
E X T R A: Check out our list of top Internet scouting resources on page 4 of this article.
"Southern growers know the economic value of scouting cotton and rice for
insects and disease due to decades of experience," he says. "But we now have to
scout soybeans to keep stinkbugs from causing a total yield disaster.
"In the last few years in Louisiana and the southern half of both Mississippi
and Arkansas, we've seen a dramatic increase in five or six different species of
stinkbug. Several are harder to kill and require different rates, products and
frequency of sprays," Denver says.
COMMON ERRORS. While professional scouts tend to do most of the work in the
South, growers elsewhere choose to do their own. "But they sometimes tend to
make common mistakes such as doing what their neighbor does—waiting too long to
start scouting and spraying, and then not knowing which product to use for
specific problems," Denver says.
Iowa agronomist Hebenstreit has observed similar mistakes. "Aside from missing
pests and details, the thing I emphasize all the time with my scouting clients
is planting details—before the scouting ever begins.
"If we want to save genetic yield—after carefully matching the right hybrids and
varieties per field—then growers must spend time off the tractor that first day.
"They need to dig in the ground behind the planter to make sure planting depth,
seed spacing and population are near perfect—especially in corn.
"I scout this important aspect, and my growers know I'm not afraid to tell them
to get a new planter if needed," Hebenstreit says.
The key to do-it-yourself scouting success is knowledge, diagnostic experience
and time wandering your fields. Every grower and scout we talked to relies
heavily on web-based information and alerts (see "Scouting tips from a pro" on page 3),
university research/workshops, pest experts and comfortable shoes.
[PAGEBREAK]
SEEK PEST EXPERTS. Indiana farmer Gary Battle's aphid lesson, which was a new
pest to northern Indiana growers in 2003, caused him to call experts outside his
area—namely entomologist Ken Ostlie at the
University of Minnesota—who had years
of experience with aphids.
"That experience proved the value of the great resources we have available
across the U.S.," Battle says. "And my close work with entomologist John
Obermeyer at Purdue, Pioneer agronomists and our sales rep network help me
deliver excellent information to customers during scouting season."
Another expert seeker, Correctionville, Iowa, farmer David Linn, is a
self-taught scout with a voracious appetite for knowledge. He befriended Iowa
State University entomologist Marlin Rice when seeking popcorn pest advice about
15 years ago.
Linn has cooperated with him on research work ever since. "In those early days
we helped each other figure out how to battle corn borer—before Bt corn. Marlin
is an excellent resource and has answered a lot of my questions," Linn says.
"My brother Fred and I handle all farm tasks ourselves, and scouting is a
critical component that I'm more comfortable doing myself—especially since we
grow high-quality seed soybeans," he adds. "I cover 200 to 300 acres every day
during my three- to four-hour morning routine with a sweep net."
FIND WHAT IS DIFFERENT. Linn's scouting mantra is simple: "Look for what's
different, then try to figure out what's going on."
Both growers agree that you must understand your key pests (insects, diseases,
weeds) along with nutrient deficiencies and herbicide injury. And both growers
spend more time scouting soybeans than corn due to better pest-resistant
genetics in corn and quality seed treatments.
"If you understand the life cycle of an insect, then you understand how to scout
it and then attack it," Linn says. In corn, he no longer worries about corn
borer, but continues to watch northern corn rootworm populations grow—but
luckily not the western variant yet.
E X T R A: Check out our list of top Internet scouting resources on page 4 of this article.
"My biggest economic challenges here in western Iowa are bean leaf beetle [and
the vectored bean pod mottle virus] and aphids in soybeans. I start scouting
right after emergence—recording where and when the population grows—and treat
accordingly. Then I scout for the second generation after July 4."
Linn says he goes mostly by gut feeling, based on his ability to understand the
level of stress on the crop. "And that's simply due to having years of scouting
experience.
"For instance, this year I think it will pay to go with all CruiserMaxx seed
treatment to stop both the bean leaf beetle and the virus—due to higher recent
pest populations," Linn says. "Treating in-season is expensive and takes a lot
of equipment. Seed treatment is easier."
As for aphids, "you have to scout for them, and I usually begin in mid- to late
July," he adds. "We've seen extreme economic benefit from good scouting and
timely treatment—as much as 10- to 20-bushel-higher yields."
In northern Indiana, Battle scouts mostly for rootworm in corn, with some
occasional spider mites and disease such as northern corn leaf blight and
anthracnose.
"In soybeans we definitely watch for bean leaf beetle, aphids, spider mites when
hot and dry, and rust—which we fortunately haven't found yet."
WATCH WEED RESISTANCE AND NITROGEN. Don't forget to scout for weed resistance,
advises Arkansas crop consultant Denver. "We're beginning to see more resistance
to Roundup and other herbicides, and it's becoming a larger scouting issue and
will eventually drive needed weed control changes."
And don't just focus on pests, Hebenstreit says. "Due to a lot of stalk nitrate
tests and late spring soil nitrate testing we've done here in Greene County in
conjunction with Tracy Blackmer of the Iowa Soybean Association, we've literally
converted most growers to sidedressed nitrogen.
"They see that they can apply less nitrogen at less expense, and it's
immediately available to the crop and not lost," Blackmer says. "And that is
good value from scouting."
[PAGEBREAK]
Scouting Tips from a Pro
Talk to a guy who's trained co-op crop scouts for several decades—along with
fielding crop mystery questions over the phone for 19 years—and you can learn a
lot.
Al Bertelsen, staff agronomist with Land O' Lakes' Winfield Solutions in
Shoreview, Minn., easily regales pest problem stories he's heard over the years.
Tales range from the odd issues such as skunks digging up farmyards for grubs to
the common call regarding aphid spray timing.
"Training is the biggest thing a scout has to have in order to properly diagnose
problems. They deal with everything from environmental conditions and crop
nutrients to insects and diseases," Bertelsen says.
"Most anyone can see when something is wrong in a field, but to correctly
diagnose it takes a lot of knowledge and in-field experience."
While his usual scout training regimen takes several days for budding scouts to
devour basic knowledge, we asked Bertelsen to share some key scouting pointers
that can help growers learn to deal with issues in their own fields.
USE THE INTERNET. There are many great university, crop association, local
retailer and company resources that can easily be found on the Internet. Sites
provide information on how to scout weeds, insects, diseases, nutrient
deficiency, chemical/mechanical issues and more, Bertelsen says.
"In fact, I use the Internet more than the huge library of materials I have
gathered over the years, as I have hundreds of valuable bookmarked sites.
"Long before you hit the fields to scout, take a look at these sites to study
the top problems you face in each crop. Not only can you learn about individual
insects, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, scout timing and more, but there are
also excellent photos to help diagnose your problem," he says.
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS. While you search these university sites, look for
informational e-mail newsletters and sign up to receive them. Subscribe to
newsletters in other states as well.
One great Midwest state newsletter resource is www.planthealth.info. Click Other
Web Resources to immediately gain links to many newsletters—some offering weekly
updates on what pests have been found and where they are located.
"Don't just limit yourself to resources in your own state because adjacent
states can give indications of what pests could be in your area as well. Keep a
close eye on the states directly south of you (since they are warmer and crops
may be further along) to get an indication when certain traveling pests may
arrive in your area," Bertelsen says.
BUILD A REFERENCE LIBRARY. Don't forget to bookmark these web sites and put them
into a desktop "scouting" folder. To aid your in-field diagnosis, place printed
pages in protective plastic to add to your scouting binder along with your notes
for each field.
E X T R A: Check out our list of top Internet scouting resources on page 4 of this article.
And don't forget to include names and phone numbers of local and state experts
because sometimes a phone call while viewing the problem in the field can
produce valuable results.
RECORD FIELD HISTORY. Always travel to fields with your notebook and digital
camera whether you're walking or in the tractor or sprayer. Also bring your GPS
locator/field software if you plan to add this data layer to your maps.
"By keeping detailed records and photographs, it helps you pinpoint problem
areas for future years. And don't neglect recording history of issues along
ditches and waterways. They can harbor eggs that lead to insects migrating into
the crop," Bertelsen says.
LOOK FOR THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT. "We always tell our students to look closely
to find what's different in the field. It could be a green area in a brown field
[a weed patch] or a brown area in a green field [a low plant population area].
Once you find those areas, then the diagnosis begins," Bertelsen says.
And check for repeating patterns that are equal distances apart, which usually
indicate a mechanical cause—planter, sprayer or fertilizer rig.
KNOW WHERE BUGS AND DISEASES TYPICALLY OCCUR. "Many insect problems are related
to the edges of fields because they overwinter there. Diseases enter from weed
hosts and neighboring crops, and weed seeds and rhizomes more in field edges.
The more you know about key insect behavior, life cycle and feeding habits, the
easier it becomes to locate potential problem areas. The same goes for diseases.
UNDERSTAND AND USE ECONOMIC THRESHOLDS. "We really emphasize using this approach
in our training. We only recommend treatment when it is economically in the
growers' best interest while minimizing effects to beneficial insects and the
environment," stresses Bertelsen.
DEVELOP TIME-EFFICIENT PATTERNS. "If you know where bugs and diseases most often
occur, you can walk an efficient zigzag pattern, making sure you cover high and
low spots along with areas of great variation," adds staff agronomist Bertelsen.
"Ideally, you should scout weekly or every other week like most scouting
services do. It doesn't have to be in the same fields, but you should be in the
same area. Then increase scouting frequency as you read or hear of pest problems
near your area."
LEARN FROM A PRO. "One good way for a grower to gain information is to hire a
pro to scout for you and learn from them. It's not uncommon for small to midsize
growers to hire a scout one year then do it themselves after that."
Fees will vary depending on the type of services you want. However, basic
scouting fees range from $2.50 to $5 per acre.
USE A DIAGNOSTIC LAB IF NECESSARY. For issues too difficult to diagnose, don't
forget to utilize area diagnostic labs. A list of state labs can be found at
www.npdn.org.
EXAMINE ALL FIELDS AT OR RIGHT AFTER HARVEST. "This is a good time to identify
all the problems that were in the field. And I like to do my own soil sampling
because I can sift through and learn other things while sampling," Bertelsen
says.
[PAGEBREAK]
Internet Scouting Resources
There are many excellent Web site resources to help with crop scouting.
If you simply type Crop Scouting into Google's search engine, you find
some 318,000 pages. But to help you quickly wade through this vast
number, we've highlighted a few of the best resources.
IPM: Introduction to Crop Scouting (University of Missouri): extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/ipm1006.htm
USDA Regional IPM Centers: www.ipmcenters.org
University of Illinois Field Crop Scouting Manual (University of Illinois): https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/X880d.html
Newsletters by state: www.planthealth.info/resources.htm;
ipm.ncsu.edu/ncpmip/newsletters.htm
Diagnostic Guide: www.planthealth.info/diag_guides.htm
Pest photos: www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/image;
www.uky.edu/Ag/Critterfiles/casefile/casefile.htm
National Plant Diagnostic Laboratories (list of state labs): www.npdn.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America (Cornell University): www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants: www.naicc.org
Certified Crop Advisers: www.certifiedcropadvisor.org/find
Iowa State University—Integrated Pest Management
Insects: www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/indices/insectsandmites.html
Diseases: www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/indices/plantdiseases.html
Weeds: www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/indices/weedmanagement.html
Weekly Iowa Scouting Reports
Iowa Soybean Association: www.isafarmnet.com/scouting/
CropWatch Blog (written by Iowa State University Extension): www.iowafarmertoday.com/blog/
University of Nebraska—NebGuides
Insects: www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/index.jsp?what=subjectAreasD&subjectAreasId=24
Plant Diseases: www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/index.jsp?what=subjectAreasD&subjectAreasId=28
Weeds: www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/index.jsp?what=subjectAreasD&subjectAreasId=37
University of Illinois
"The Bulletin" pest management and crop development newsletter: www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/contents.php
Pest Management Handbook: www.ipm.uiuc.edu/pubs/iapmh/index.html
Soybean Scouting Guide—Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board: www.ilsoy.org/_dl/IL%20Soybean%20Scouting%20Guide.pdf
Purdue University
Corn & Soybean Field Guide: www.ipm.uiuc.edu/pubs/iapmh/index.html
The Chat & Chew Café, Agronomic news from across the Corn Belt: www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/cafe/index.html
Midwest Disease/Insect/Weeds & More References: www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/desktop.html
Timely Corn Grower Information: www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/timely.html
Pest & Crop Newsletter: extension.entm.purdue.edu/pestcrop/index.html
Ohio State University
Agronomic Crops Network: agcrops.osu.edu/
C.O.R.N Newsletter (Crop Observation and Recommendation Network): corn.osu.edu/
Crop Diseases: www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ohiofieldcropdisease/
Insects: entomology.osu.edu/ag/index.htm
Weeds: agcrops.osu.edu/weeds/?PHPSESSID=bc049db680e1e864618cf93fc1e59a35
Corn, Soybean, Wheat and Alfalfa Field Guide: (VERY GOOD)
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b827/0002.html
Kansas State University
Kansas Insect Newsletter: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/entomology/extension/KIN/KIN_current.htm
Crop & Soils Library: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/
Plant Disease Alerts: http://www.plantpath.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=502
University of Wisconsin
Integrated Pest and Crop Management: http://ipcm.wisc.edu/
University of Arkansas
Newsletters: http://www.aragriculture.org/newsletters.htm
Auburn University
Alabama IPM Center: http://www.aces.edu/anr/ipm/
Mississippi State University
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology: http://www.entomology.msstate.edu/resources/
North Carolina State University
Pest Management Information Program: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ncpmip/