Japanese beetles swept across southern Iowa and northern Missouri this year, clipping silks a
nd damaging leaf tissue and pods on soybean plants. By chewing on the tissue between leaf veins, this insect can reduce yields and leave soybean fields full of lacey leaves.
Golden Harvest agronomists presenting at the Slater, Iowa, Grow More™ Experience site said Japanese beetles have been a common issue for many farms this year. They noted that farmers dealing with Japanese beetle damage this summer should get ahead of the issue in 2018 by following these 2 management steps:
- Scout soybean fields often. Japanese beetles will primarily feed on the upper leaves, so check the top leaves for their presence or look for a cut-out leaf appearance. While damage will primarily be on the upper leaves, evaluate the entire canopy for defoliation to determine the extent of the damage.
- Prepare a plan for next year. If beetle damage has removed 30% of the leaf area before pod set or 20% or more of the leaf area after pod set, farmers should plan to use a foliar insecticide to knock down further damage before yield loss occurs.
Contact your Golden Harvest Seed Advisor with questions or for additional agronomic insights.
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