Soybean Sentinel Plot Report: July 5, 2022

Overview of reports from around Pennsylvania

The reports this week continue to reveal low insect pest populations and few diseases. Grasshopper nymphs are being found in nearly every field, which makes sense given the time of year and the hot, dry conditions prevalent in some parts of the Pennsylvania. Otherwise, bean leaf beetle, soybean aphids and silver-spotted skipper caterpillars are being found, but again populations are low.

For diseases, only Frogeye leaf spot was found in one field, reflecting hot, dry conditions, which are not good for diseases. Scout your own fields to learn what is active in your area. Good luck!

Background on the project

This growing season the Pennsylvania Soybean Promotion Board is funding a Soybean Sentinel Plot Program, which is being managed by The Dept. of Entomology at Penn State and executed by Penn State Extension. In this effort, Penn State Extension Educators are regularly scouting about 25 'typical' soybean fields in about 20 counties across the state, reporting the populations of plant pathogens and insect pests that they find. Our goal is to inform the agricultural community about which pests are active across the state, so folks will have a sense of what to expect when they scout their own fields as part of an IPM program. It would be inappropriate to use these reports to justify insecticide applications.

Reports

In the reports below, pests that were found during scouting are listed with their severity, which is rated on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the highest. A severity score of 1 equates to 10% or less infestation or defoliation, a "2" aligns with 20% or less infestation or defoliation, and so on. Growers should be sure to check their own fields to determine your local populations, but these reports will indicate which pests are likely to be active in fields. Our reports are distributed via this weekly newsletter and are available via the Penn State Extension website (then search for "soybean sentinel plot").

4 July 2022 – Montgomery County – Andrew Frankenfield

Near Souderton

Growth stage: V3

• No insects or diseases of note

1 July 2022 – Centre County – Adriana Murillo-Williams

Field between Bellefonte and State College

Growth stage: V6-7

• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1

• Soybean aphid – Severity: 1
• Soybean leafminer – Severity: 1
• Grasshopper – Severity: 1
• Green cloverworm caterpillar – Severity: 1
• Silver-spotted skipper caterpillar – Severity: 1

• No diseases of note

1 July 2022 – Beaver County – Justin Brackenrich / Adam Hohn

Near Fombell

Growth stage: V3

• Grasshopper – Severity: 1

• Frogeye leaf spot – Severity: 1
• Deer damage present

1 July 2022 – Butler County – Justin Brackenrich / Adam Hohn

Two fields, one north of Saxonburg, one south of Saxonburg

Growth stage: V4 (South), V6 (North)

• Grasshopper – Severity: 1

• No diseases of note
• Deer and groundhog damage present

1 July 2022 – Berks County – Sarah Frame

Near Brownsville

Growth stage: V2

• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• Silver-spotted skipper caterpillar – Severity: 1
• Grasshopper – Severity: 1
• No diseases of note
• Deer damage present

1 July 2022 – Chester County – Sarah Frame

Two fields, one near South Pottstown, one near Parkesburg

Growth stage: R1

• Grasshopper – Severity: 1
• Mexican bean beetle – Severity: 1 (South Pottstown)
• Soybean aphid – Severity: 1 (South Pottstown)
• No diseases of note
• Herbicide damage present (Parkesburg)

28 June 2022 – Somerset County – Leanna Dupptstadt

Field near Somerset

Growth stage: V4

• Grasshopper – Severity: 1
• No diseases of note
• Herbicide damage present

28 June 2022 – York County – Heidi Reed

Two fields, one near West York, one near Stewartstown

Growth stage: R1

• Japanese beetle – Severity: 1 (Stewartstown)
• Grasshopper – Severity: 1
• No diseases of note
• Herbicide damage present (West York)

28 June 2022 – Mercer County – Joey Akins

North of Mercer

Growth stage: V4

• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• No diseases of note