Statewide Soybean Meeting, Feb 19, Elmer Grange

The 3rd annual Soybean Producers meeting will be held on February 19 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Elmer Grange at 535 Daretown Road, Elmer, NJ.

Topics will include the new High Oleic Acid Soybeans, GMO Labeling, Biodiesel Update, and various pest management updates including the newly found Palmer Amaranth in NJ.

Breakfast and Lunch provided.
Application for Pesticide Credits has been made.
Call 609-585-6871 to register.

-Zane R. Helsel

Stink Bugs in Soybeans

Stink Bugs, including the Brown Marmorated type (BMSB), have begun to show up in soybean fields around the state. In addition to our RCE associated blog on the BMSB, the Plant Management Network has developed a webcast titled “Impact and Management of BMSB in Mid-Atlantic Soybean”. This talk by Virginia Tech entomology professor Ames Herbert Jr., covers: Patterns of field infestation by BMSB;Conditions that may predispose soybean fields to infestation;The impact of BMSB feeding on soybean seed and yield;Field management practices that have proven successful with growers; and Insecticide efficacy comparisons. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/edcenter/seminars/soybean/BMSB/ This 20-minute presentation is open access through November 30, 2013. Viewers can also opt to see a 2-minute executive summary version of this presentation. This shorter executive summary version is permanently open access courtesy of the United Soybean Board and supported by your New Jersey Soybean Board. Zane R. Helsel

RCE Field Crop Twilight Meeting Announced

Commercial Growers, Crop Consultants, and Ag Industry personnel
are invited to attend a RCE Field Crop Twilight Meeting

Date: Sep 10th, 5PM - Dusk
Location: Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Pittstown, NJ
Please RSVP by 9/6/13 to (908) 788-1339

Dinner 5:00PM
Wagon Tour:

• Stop 1: 67 Full season soybean varieties; evaluating soybean resistance to white mold 
• Stop 2: Double crop soybean variety trial following canola evaluating 65 soybean varieties resistance to white mold 
• Stop 3: Field corn variety study evaluating different fertilizer treatments 
• Stop 4: Field corn trial comparing different liming agents 
• Stop 5: Irrigation pond management 
• Stop 6: Agronomic production issues for corn mazes

- Bill Bamka

Watch for soybean aphids

I was out scouting some double crop soybeans earlier this morning and came across several fields with moderate populations of soybean aphids. I have not encountered aphid populations this high in several years. The early flowering period has been shown to be a critical time for soybean aphid damage in several Midwest studies. Impact on yield has been as high as 50% in some studies. Fortunately, the threshold for soybean aphid is fairly high, 250 aphids per plant. This threshold allows for about seven days time to allow for gathering spray materials, until populations would build to 1000 per plant. Lady bird beetles can keep low or moderate soybean aphid populations in check. More information on scouting and control can be found in the RCE soybean aphid fact sheet.   


Bill Bamka

Kudzu Bug Getting Closer

You may have read in different farming publications about the presence of bean platasipid (Megacopta cribraria) or more commonly the kudzu bug in the southeastern US. It is referred to as the kudzu bug because it has a tendency to feed on kudzu. This is not necessarily a bad thing in the south where kudzu is an exotic invasive species. In the southeastern US kudzu bug has become a concern because it is also a pest of soybeans. This stink bug species is smaller than brown marmorated stink bug and has a different shape. Like brown marmorated stink bug it also can overwinter in homes. This stink bug species was discovered in Georgia in 2009 and has since spread through out the southeast and is heading north. The kudzu bug has most recently been found in Sussex County Delaware. It has also been found in Maryland in Prince George, Charles, Calvert, and Anne Arundel counties. As kudzu bug is a soybean pest we need to keep a watchful eye for it here in New Jersey.


Bill Bamka


adult kudzu bug