. . . . .  Soybean Aphids May Have Caused Up to 13 Bushels Per Acre Yield Loss in Some Fields South of I-90 in 2004 . . . . Results of  2004 Research at USDA-ARS-NGIRL Confirmed Our Threshold Recommendations . . . . . Yield Loss Recorded Even at Initial 1 Aphid Per Plant at V5 and R2 . . . . . Hee-Yo, We Are Correct Sir . . . . . Ollie Two-Fifty Desperate . . . . . Tried To Convince Buford . . . . .

Et tu, Buckthorn?           

New! Stage specific economic injury levels for V5, R2, R4, and R5

There may come a time when the severity of the season's soybean aphid infestation
can be predicted by the number of soybean aphids on buckthorn leaves in the fall of the
previous year.

For now, though, the association between aphids on buckthorns in the fall, and aphids
on soybeans during the growing season remains pure guesswork (or, as Buford would say,
conjecture), not unlike earthquake or tsunami forecasting.  There goes Buford again with his
fancy conjecture word.

It appears to me that only entomologists from major universities, perhaps facing budget cuts,
can be so sure of the correlation (even regression) between aphid numbers in the fall, then
aphid numbers in the summer.

However, I too, boldly predict that soybean aphids will again be present on the soybean field
across South Dakota in 2005.  How severe where?  I have no idea.  But it will be on the field
for sure, and, some fields in the southeast will reach and surpass SD economic injury levels
at V5 and R2.

There you have it folks, my bold prediction that there will be soybean aphids on soybeans
in SD in 2005.  And I base this prediction solely on the fact that soybean aphids were present
on buckthorns surrounding the SDSU football field in the fall of 2004.

And, by the way, I also predict that there will be grasshoppers in 2005.  I base this prediction
from the bugs that got stuck in my car's radiator (Le Oracle of the Grille) in the fall of 2002.


                                                                                


We shall see if my predictions were accurate.


(Next issue:  Stage specific economic injury levels for V5, R2, R4, and R5)

                                      

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 Web Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 by Mike Catangui.  Last updated on the Ides of March.