Category Archives: Insects

2011 Corn Earworm Trapping in Kansas

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Mark Ellis (Kansas)

Trapping Corn Earworm in Kansas Offers Keys to 2011 Disease Issues In 2011, Syngenta cooperated with Kansas State University to collect data on Corn Earworm (CEW) moth activity throughout eastern Kansas. The CEW moth trapping project utilized the KSU protocol. Trapping started in June with 11 CEW traps placed across eastern Kansas at the following locations: Marysville, Centralia, Winchester, Atchison, Wamego, Girard, Yates Center, Ottawa, Thayer, Coffeyville and White City. Each CEW team member checked the trap weekly, replacing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn Earworm, Infestations, Insects, Kansas, Pests, Syngenta | View Comments

You Knew They Were Coming – Soybean Aphid Alert

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Gary Prescher (Minnesota)

Soybean aphid season in Minnesota is upon us once again in 2011. This year is a real testament to the effectiveness of CruiserMaxx® Beans insecticide/fungicide seed treatment from several angles.   This seed treatment continues to perform as we have come to expect by protecting seedlings early on from disease and by delaying aphid establishment. Fields planted with untreated seed are quickly reaching economic thresholds of 250 aphids per plant. Fields where CruiserMaxx Beans seed treatment was used normally delays aphid thresholds … Continue reading →

Posted in Aphid Management System, Infestations, Insects, Minnesota, NK, NK Soybeans, Pests, Profitability, Scouting, Syngenta | View Comments

The Fireworks Might Not Be Over

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Mark Lawson (Indiana)

The 4th of July fireworks and picnics are over but there may be some fireworks in the field yet this summer. I have been monitoring four sets of insect traps for the past five weeks and just put out two additional sets of traps. We’ve been catching corn earworm moths, fall armyworm moths and true armyworm moths. In early July, I set the first traps for western bean cutworm (WBCW). A week later, I had two WBCW moths in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn Earworm, Insects, Western Bean Cutworm | View Comments

The Invasion of the Corn Earworm!

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Mark Ellis (Kansas)

As we go through the corn crop growing season, we see a multitude of insects. We generally start with black cutworm and end the season with corn earworm. This insect is tough to scout for and to control because the actual damage is done inside the husk to the corn ear kernels during and after tassel stage. Unless you get out in your fields, you may never see the damage until the corn is harvested and in the truck. Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Agrisure Corn Traits, Agrisure Viptera, Corn, Corn Earworm, Disease, Infestations, Insects, Kansas, Minnesota, Mycotoxin, Ohio, Pests, Profitability, Scouting, State, Syngenta, Texas | View Comments

Soybeans: the Second Crop

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Rich Lee (Iowa)

When it comes to soybean planting, it is hard to go wrong.  I mean, really, just look at some of the things I have seen in the field and how it is often done. Planting date – Any time after the corn is finished is fine for beans. Planting population – Somewhere between 140,000 and 200,000 seeds per acre. Planting depth – Again, all over the board. It wanders from “a few on top” to two inches deep. Maturity – … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbicides, Insects, Iowa, NK Soybeans, Planting, Planting Population, Soybeans | View Comments

An Eye on the Crop: Evaluating Seedling Growth

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Gary Prescher (Minnesota)

Yield preservation starts when the planter rolls and ends when the combine stops at the end of harvest. I have found that an extended planting season is often very distracting. Heading into the end of May, it will be time to monitor stand emergence and track several early season pests. Planting the crop over a long period of time can set up extended scouting and response windows. Good record keeping becomes more important when monitoring the crops progress as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Corn, Emergence, Infestations, Insects, Minnesota, Northern Plains, Pests, Scouting | View Comments

Be Aware of Black Cutworm This Spring

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Mark Ellis (Kansas)

Black cutworm (BCW) is typically the most damaging species of cutworm to infest corn fields in Kansas. Black cutworm infestations are often characterized as random and unpredictable. Light infestations of black cutworm are common, but often go unnoticed without scouting. Heavy infestations can devastate a corn stand, and generally the problem is not identified until the major damage has already occurred. These untimely infestations may result in stand reductions of greater than 70 percent in some areas of the field. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Cutworm, Corn, Emergence, High Plains, Infestations, Insects, Kansas, Multi-Pest Complex, Pests, Planting, Profitability, Syngenta, Uncategorized | View Comments

Earth Day: A Time for Reflection, Preparation and Celebration

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Chris Cook (National)

How many times have you heard “it’s a small world”?  Certainly there are things that make it seem that way: the internet, cable news channels, cell phones and other technologies.  The truth is that the world is small, and shrinking.  Today versus a generation ago, we have fewer acres of arable land, less water, fossil fuel and a population that continues to grow in size and rate of consumption. At Syngenta, we think about this every day.  We are constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Disease, Genetic diversity, Insects, Pests, Water Optimization, Yield | View Comments

Spring Alfalfa Stand Assessment

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Dervin Druist (Pennsylvania)

I haven’t heard anyone complaining about the snow melting and the warmer temperatures. With the warm weather comes the opportunity to walk a few fields and see how the alfalfa has handled the harsh winter conditions. Some areas have had open ground with significant freezing and thawing this spring, and it would be good to check in on those stands. Spring scouting is always beneficial to determine actual stand counts per square foot and evaluate individual crown and root health. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alfalfa, East, Insects, Pennsylvania, Profitability, Scouting | View Comments

National Farm Machinery Show Recap

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Mark Lawson (Indiana)

It’s been a busy two weeks on and off the farm.  Snow came, snow went, and then snow came again.  The National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky also came and went as it has been doing for 46 years now.  It’s been a tough winter, we are all suffering from a bit of cabin fever, and the NFMS must be a proven cure for that particular ailment – which would account for the record attendance this year. Our Syngenta … Continue reading →

Posted in Agrisure Corn Traits, Agrisure Viptera, Great Lakes, Herbicides, Hybrid selection, Indiana, Infestations, Insects, Kentucky, Pests, Weed Control | View Comments