By Daren Mueller, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology
Farmers and crop scouts can identify and keep track of soybean and corn field problems throughout the season by using a new series of field crop scouting cards. The cards were produced by the Iowa State University (ISU) Integrated Pest Management program with support from the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA).
The series includes nine scouting cards: early, mid- and late-season soybean scouting; early, mid- and late-season corn scouting; and problem-specific cards for white mold, soybean aphid and stink bugs. The cards can be used as a recordkeeping tool to track pest problems in specific fields over time, which then can be referenced when making future decisions. Color images and descriptions on disease and pest cards simplify the identification of crop issues.
Identifying insects, diseases and other issues is a critical part of making good management decisions in corn and soybean. These publications can be used by crop scouts as a calling card to let the farmer know the field has been scouted and as a record of any problems in the field.
The scouting cards were developed to complement ISU's field guide series. Several publications in the field guide series and the soybean scouting cards were partially funded by ISA through the soybean checkoff. For more than 40 years, the soybean checkoff program has been working with leading researchers and extension specialists at ISU to provide Iowa’s farmers the latest agronomic information. These guides are another in a series of joint publications all aimed at helping soybean farmers more effectively manage their soybean acres.
Scouting cards can be ordered from the ISU Extension and Outreach Online Store or by calling (515) 294-5247 and requesting the appropriate publication. Copies of the soybean scouting cards can also be obtained by contacting ISA at 800-383-1423; pdfs are also available.
Daren Mueller is an extension specialist with responsibilities in the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. Contact him at 515-460-8000 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.org.
This article was published originally on 5/22/2012 The information contained within the article may or may not be up to date depending on when you are accessing the information.
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