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Agronomic Crops Network

Ohio State University Extension

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Back to the Future with Stink Bugs?

Some of you may remember the 2012 growing season—very dry most of the year but, in some areas, late season rains gave a second life into the soybean crop that was reaching pod fill stage.  Unfortunately, this boost also likely attracted stink bugs into soybean and robbed many producers of the yield they thought was saved by the rain.  With the recent rains this past week, 2016 is shaping up to be very similar to 2012.  Now that soybean has moisture to fill the pods, we might be seeing a rise in stink bug pressure.  We have already found a few stink bugs in our soybean sweep net surveys in (funded by the Ohio Soybean Council and the North Central Soybean Research Program), so they are active, and will remain active until the R6 stage. The figure shows adult stink bugs that may be found in soybean fields. Soybean fields should be scouted for stink bugs over the next few weeks—start with field edges with 10 sweep sets (10 sweeps per set).  If stink bugs are found, you may want to sample a few areas in the field interior.  Thresholds are set at an average of 4 stink bugs per sweep set, regardless of the species or life stage (e.g. nymph or adult).  If the soybeans are grown for seed or food quality, the threshold is reduced to 2 because of the intense damage directly to the seed. Most of the pressure in found along field edges, so, if threshold is reached, a spray along the edge may prevent most of the damage.  If applications are made, please be aware of honeybees and other pollinators that might still be working the soybean field and always follow the label’s instructions.

Crop Observation and Recommendation Network

C.O.R.N. Newsletter is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio crop producers and industry. C.O.R.N. Newsletter is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, state specialists at The Ohio State University and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). C.O.R.N. Newsletter questions are directed to Extension and OARDC state specialists and associates at Ohio State.