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soybean field

Fight Yield Robbing Insects

When soybean field scouting reveals yield robbing insects in the corn or soybeans, Federated recommends Brigade 2 EC, a highly effective pyrethroid insecticide labeled for both corn and soybeans. Brigade 2 EC, according to Bryan Thompson of Rosen's, has the active ingredient bifenthrin, which is very effective on all kinds of worms, beetles, aphids, and mites.
 
Whether the goal is to knock down these pests fast, or provide long-lasting residual for pests yet to come, "Brigade conveniently does both," said Thompson. Brigade 2 EC is also very safe in comparison to organophosphate insecticides. "And it doesn't smell as bad either," he added.
 
At 5-6 oz./ac., Brigade 2 EC is "very affordable and will provide quick kill and several weeks of residual activity to protect your crops," said Thompson. (See Brigade fact sheet.)
 
Talk to your Federated Agronomist to learn more - and fight the insects before they rob yield.
Save the Dates!

Discovery Plot Days are coming soon to farms near you! Plan to attend.
 
Monday, Aug. 22
Osceola - Craig, Janet & Neil Gustafson Farm

Tuesday, Aug. 23
Isanti - Paul & Janet Bostrom Farm

Wednesday, Aug. 24
Princeton -  Larry & Sharon Wilhelm Farm

Thursday, Aug. 25
Rush City - Cramaur Farm

Friday, Aug. 26 
Hinckley - Nathan Nelson Farm

Monday, Aug. 29 
Foley - Lezer Farm

Tuesday, Aug. 30 
Albertville - Lenneman Farm

Wednesday, Aug. 31 
Ogilvie - Steffen Farm
 
All Discovery Plots start at 10 a.m., followed by a steak dinner at noon. 
Agenda will be announced soon.
July 26, 2016
Scout Soybeans Soon, and Later

It's time to watch for soybean insects. "Don't forget to scout fields for aphids and spider mites in soybeans," said John Swanson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location. "Spider mites are more prevalent when conditions are dry, but before the recent rains, spider mites were being seen," he said.
word cloud2
 
"Spider mites are really hard to scout for," according to Swanson, so don't hesitate to contact your Federated Agronomist if you think you might have them. If temperatures rise and rain chances diminish, the mites will thrive.  
 
"We have not seen a lot of soybean aphids [yet], but across the majority of Federated's territory, aphids can still come in that early August time period, so continue scouting for aphids," Swanson said, noting that scouting along the way should be a given -- but it's not too late to start now.
 
"Even though we haven't seen high numbers [of aphids] to this point, we need to remain vigilant and scout for them through mid-August," said Swanson. Aphids gain activity with moisture (they don't like it hot and dry), so they may pick up.
 
Scout soon. Scout later. Treat as needed (see article at left). Call your Federated Agronomist with questions.
 
These scouting guides from the U of M Extension service also offer helpful information: soybean aphids and spider mites. 
Keep an Eye on Fields to Protect Yields
 
"This is a really good time to investigate problems in the fields through analysis," said Kevin Carlson, Federated's senior agronomist. Tissue and soil sampling in the specific problem areas can reveal the exact causes of the problems because the physical symptoms are visible in the growing crop.
 
"We can tie together what we are seeing with the tissue [and/or soil samples] to do some really good deciphering of what's taking place," said Carlson. "All fields are not uniform," he added, "and there always seems to be trouble spots." Composite soil sampling, while always helpful, doesn't find the exact reason for trouble spots because "they throw everything in there," said Carlson. It pays to narrow the focus with targeted samples. 
soybeans roots not nodulating
soybean plant not fixing N
Soybean roots (above left) appear to be healthy, but they are not nodulating and the plants (above right) are yellowing, indicating that the plants are not fixing nitrogen. 

Study the crop above ground and below ground (see photos above); the roots reveal the health of the plants as well.

Look at fields now. Take soil samples. Get tissue samples. Take the time to analyze what's happening in specific trouble spots, and talk to your Federated Agronomist about any concerns.

corn field low pH
Soil samples proved that this field of corn was yellowing and unhealthy due to extremely low pH.
magnesium deficient corn
Tissue and soil samples proved that the yellow edges on these corn leaves were due to a magnesium deficiency.

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