Thrips in Soybeans

I was out looking at some young soybeans in the second trifoliate stage and noticed some thrip injury. Thrip injury appears as a puckering of the leaves. Sometimes it is confused with 2,4-D herbicide injury. Thrips are generally not an issue in non drought stressed fields as the plants can generally tolerate the feeding injury. Thrips can be a concern to newly planted double crop soybeans particularly if spider mites and leafhoppers are present, especially during drought periods. Information on scouting and treatment is in the Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Pest Management Guide.

Bill Bamka



Thrip damage on soybean

Leafhoppers

I was out scouting some alfalfa in Burlington County and was finding pretty significant leafhopper numbers. Some plants were showing yellowing, which translates into yield loss. Remember to continue scouting for leafhopper. Treatment is generally recommended when the number of leafhoppers in 100 sweeps is 10 times greater than the average stem height. For example in 6 inch alfalfa you would need more than 60 leafhoppers in 100 sweeps. Complete scouting and treatment information can be found in the Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Pest Management Recommendations.

Bill Bamka