The Ag PhD Crop Scouting Reports are supplied by contributors to Hefty Seed Co., based in Baltic, South Dakota. Find more online at www.agphd.com and www.heftyseed.com.
ARKANSAS
Augusta, AR
Once again we are faced with the decision of whether or not to replant soybeans, only this time it may be around the 20th of July before the water runs down enough to go. Each situation is different and a lot depends on replant insurance and/or preventive planting insurance. I’m not very familiar with either but I can tell you this, when you put a combine through those places that drowned out, something is better than nothing. If you don’t have insurance to pick you up, let’s get some seed and replant those areas. — Joey York
ILLINOIS
Georgetown, IL
I am starting to see more Japanese beetles in soybean fields. Scout your fields to see if you are having a problem on your farm. If you are, pyrethroids like Kendo are effective at the 3.84 oz rate. — Tyler Smith
Princeton, IL
Many are spraying Cobra and Resource on soybeans. Typically, Cobra at R1 or R2 causes little to no yield loss. However, application at R3 (pod set) could result in up to 25% yield loss if conditions are hot and dry. Significantly less yield loss will occur if applied during moderate temperatures and humid conditions. At R3, one should factor in the potential yield loss from not applying Cobra if substantial weeds exist. Be safe! — Mike Denton
I’m starting to see Japanese beetles in soybeans fields this season. Start scouting your fields today and use Hero at 4 oz/acre for moderate pressure or use 5 oz/acre if you have heavy pressure. — Matt Denton
We are in prime conditions for developing gray leaf spot. Rainy and/or humid weather favors its development. Look for rectangular lesions, 1-2 inches long. The lesions will cover the entire area between the leaf veins. Early signs of the disease have a yellow halo around the lesions. — John Becker
IOWA
Sheldon, IA
In many surrounding counties there is evidence of poor sprayer cleanout. As you make these last few passes through the field, especially on late planted or replanted fields, it will be a good last chance to get the sprayer cleanout procedure correct as to not stunt/injure already slow crops. For best results, use the triple-rinse method with tank cleaner on the second rinse and get a good volume of water through your booms on every rinse. Make sure you pull all endcaps and have a bucket of detergent water on hand with a brush to make cleaning out sticky filters a breeze. Don’t forget your gloves and goggles! — Connor Majerus
MINNESOTA
Hancock, MN
Use high rates of grass killers now. I am seeing some significant flushes of wild proso millet. Proso and yellow foxtail take higher rates of your clethodim or Assure II-type products in dry beans, for example. Also, volunteer corn is big now. Killing this big corn now is much tougher and will likely lead to a standing dead carcass. On questionable kills on any of these grasses with these chemistries, pull out the whorl or top leaf and it should be brown tissue where it connects. — Adam Gibson
I’ve heard some early reports of aphids in a couple of hotspots around our area. It is still early for aphids for the most part, but keeping an eye on your fields at this point is a good idea. Insecticides are generally around $2/acre or less. — Aaron Giese
Janesville, MN
Recently hail and damaging winds have come through our area. Make sure to scout your fields to check for damage. A fungicide application could really help with plant health. — Josh Bruns
LeRoy, MN
If you have some weeds break in your soybeans now, you have a tough decision to make. We are to the point where we don’t want to spray any more herbicides, especially harsh ones, because we will start to cause yield loss. We are also past most labels. Cobra is still labeled, but is very harsh. We don’t want to cause the plant to abort pods. It may be time to get the garden hoe out. — Grant Lunning
Marshall, MN
Volunteer corn in the soybean fields are reaching the 12 -15 inch height. Most volunteer corn is controlled when it is a lot smaller than that. If you still need to spray your volunteer corn you may need to use the full labeled rate in order to kill the taller corn plant. If XtendiMax is in the tankmix, then 8 oz of Select Max should be your low rate. — Dave Timmerman
Olivia, MN
Many soybean fields are just starting to bloom and are growing very fast right now. Be sure to stay within the label for application timings to avoid aborting flowers. — John Scheibel
Soybeans are looking better this week; they seem to be growing well. There have been some iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) spots that have gotten better for the time being. — Aaron Spronk
I have heard a lot of reports of yellow beans due to IDC this year. There is not a lot you can do for this year’s crop. Soygreen foliar may green up your beans but it won’t really help with yield. However, it is a good product when used in-furrow, so keep it in mind for next year. Ultimately, you have to get your pH down, which usually means tiling. — Tony Hagen
Thief River Falls, MN
Walking in some soybean fields today, soybean aphids are starting to show up in fields. The second spray of glyphosate will be happening over the next week or two, so be scouting your fields to see if you need to add an insecticide with the glyphosate. A product like Lorsban is a great knock on soybean aphids for a reasonable price. — Jordan Swanson
We have been seeing aphids and also a few thistle caterpillars. Make sure to be scouting your fields for these pests! — Rachel Klein
Winthrop, MN
With high winds and hail early Monday in our area, make sure to check all your acres for damage. You may need to contact your insurance company or just have your agronomist look at your fields. — Dean Christiansen
If you are still spraying glyphosate in your beans, I would consider adding MegaGro. MegaGro at 2 oz/acre is the only labeled safener for the glyphosate and significantly reduces yellow flash; it is also a growth regulator. We have seen instances where the weed control was increased due to giving the weeds a jump start and taking in chemical quicker. — Tyler Gasow
Whether you got hit by the hail this weekend or are seeing some flowering going on in your soybeans, now is a great time to look at putting a fungicide on your beans. We have seen the best return on investment from fungicide at flowering time in soybeans. Also, the hail that hurt a few of the fields will make the plants susceptible to taking in diseases through the injured areas. — Matt Vogel
MISSOURI
Bertrand, MO
I have looked at several corn fields in the area and noticed a lot of spotted leaves. It could be a disease or a reaction to herbicide. The interesting thing about this is that it appears to be county-wide, not isolated areas. Some farmers believe the corn is matured enough to avoid a significant impact on yield. Others believe it’s disease and are spraying fungicides. — Albert Duenne
Hayti, MO
Don’t let insects, disease, and herbicide issues keep you from seeing visible signs of nutrient deficiencies. A good rule of thumb is that N-P-K and magnesium (Mg) deficiencies occur on older, lower leaves because these nutrients are easily translocated within the plant. Calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and micronutrients/traces such as boron (B), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) are visible on young leaf tissues because these nutrients do not easily translocate within the plant. Use visual scouting, tissue analysis, and foliar fertilization as crop management tools to protect your yields. — Dany Stevens
NEBRASKA
Laurel, NE
If you have had trouble with white mold in your soybeans in the past, control has been shown at this time to make your first application of fungicide and then another application in 2-3 weeks. — Rusty Reifenrath
West Point, NE
On soybeans that were planted on wider rows, keep a close eye on newly emerged weeds. If you haven’t gotten to canopy and you didn’t add a residual post, there might be a chance you will need to spray again. — Jared Steffensmeier
NORTH DAKOTA
Hillsboro, ND
If you are looking to add an additional tankmix herbicide on Roundup beans, you can use Resource. I like the 2 oz rate with a full shot of PowerMAX and AMS. Resource is good to use 60 days pre-harvest. It is not a cure-all, but it is an addition to help the Roundup which has not been working very well on ragweed. — Ryan Pierce
Lisbon, ND
Between now and R3 has shown the best return on investment when using AC-97 in soybeans. This product is a combination of plant growth hormones and a few different nutrients. — Adam Ladwig
Mohall, ND
After looking at soybeans in the Mohall area yesterday, a small amount of ragweed and kochia are still present, especially on ground that didn’t get a pre on. Keep Roundup rates high to take care of these weeds. We’ve also seen some thistle caterpillars in fields. Apply an insecticide like Kendo at 3.2 oz/ acre when threshold levels are reached to get thistle caterpillars under control. — Ron Hefta
Webster, ND
Spider mites showed up in soybean fields today. Lorsban and Brigade are both good choices. You will get a quick kill with the Lorsban and residual with the Brigade. — Jim Sitar
SOUTH DAKOTA
Aberdeen, SD
Even though it seems hard to do in these dry conditions, I am seeing some of the highest yielding farmers using at least a 1/2 rate of a fungicide, such as 2-2.5 oz/acre of Priaxor, on their beans. They say that it pays a majority of the time and that they notice more drought tolerance and better plant health. If you haven’t done it before I’d recommend at least splitting a field or two to see if you notice the same things. — Justin Hanson
Centerville, SD
Due to the lack of moisture and above normal temperatures, keep on the watch out for spider mites in soybeans. This is the environment they thrive in. — Tim Brouwer
Freeman, SD
Now is the time to start looking at the leaves of your corn to see if you potentially have a nutrient deficiency. Potassium deficiency appears as a firing or drying along the tips and edges of the lowest leaves. Nitrogen shows yellowing that starts at the tip and moves along the middle of the leaf. Phosphate, which is mainly seen in young plants, will have reddish-purple outer leaves. When in doubt about anything, take some tissue samples and send them off to the lab. Even though there isn’t much of a fix beside trying some foliar feeding, it gives the producer a good idea on what they might have to focus on from a fertility standpoint in the future. — Matt Zilverberg
Gettysburg, SD
If you are spraying Express on your sunflowers, make sure that the bud is not visible. — Kyle Hawkinson
Huron, SD
If you are thinking of desiccating your spring wheat, make sure it is in the hard dough stage. If done too early it can cause yield loss. — Garritt Dykstra
Kimball, SD
With guys out haying ditches in full force the last couple weeks we have seen an abundance of grasshoppers in field borders now. Make sure you are scouting your acres to get ahead of them. Kendo at 3.84 oz/acre will do a great job. — Jeremy Nedved
I had a customer see great results from a heading application of 28% nitrogen on his winter wheat. He gained 3-4% protein. — Mike Erickson
Watertown, SD
Soybeans are reaching the R1 stage in our area. If you have a history of white mold, now would be a great time to spray a half rate of Domark – a rate of 2.5 oz/acre. Growers have been seeing great returns on a small investment. — Beau Wensing
WASHINGTON
Quincy, WA
For growers that are seeing a flush of western salsify in their herbicide fallow, 1 qt/acre of 2,4-D mixed with a couple of ounces of dicamba is a cost effective option for this tough weed. Don’t forget NIS at 1 qt/100 gal water. — Devin Moon
