Sentinel Plot Program in Soybeans

In this effort, Penn State Extension Educators are regularly scouting fifteen ‘typical’ soybean fields across the state, reporting significant populations of plant pathogens and insect pests. For all the reports thus far, see Penn State’s Field Crop Entomology website.

Reports from the past week indicate very mild insect and disease pressure. Pests that were found during scouting are listed with their severity, which is rated on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the highest. Make sure you check your fields to determine your local populations, but these reports will give you a sense of what pests are active in fields.

Montgomery County – 3 Aug 2012

Growth stage: R3
Potato leafhopper active – Severity: 1
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 2
Septoria leaf spot – Severity: 1

Berks County – 3 Aug 2012

Combined report from 2 fields
Growth stage: R2 in one field, R5 in the other
Brown marmorated stink bugs – Severity: 1
Bean leaf beetle present – Severity: 1
Potato leafhopper active – Severity: 1
Green cloverworm active – Severity: 3
Japanese beetles active – Severity: 1
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 1
Damsel bugs and bumble bees active

Franklin County – 3 Aug 2012

Brown Marmorated Stinkbug present – Severity: 1
Green cloverworm active – Severity: 1
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 1
Downy mildew – Severity: 1
Septoria leaf spot – Severity: 1
Soybean vein necrosis virus – Severity: 1

York County – 2 Aug 2012

Growth stage: R3
Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 1
Potato leafhoppers active – Severity: 1
Downy mildew – Severity: 1
Septoria leaf spot – Severity: 1
Suspected soybean vein necrosis virus – sample submitted for analysis

Lebanon County – 1 Aug 2012

Field 1
Growth stage: R4
Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars – Severity: 4
Potato leafhopper active – Severity: 2
Two-spotted spider mites – Severity: 4
Green cloverworm active – Severity: 2
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 3
Lady beetles and damsel bugs active
No diseases found

Field 2
Growth stage: R3
Silver-spotted skipper caterpillars – Severity: 2
Potato leafhopper active – Severity: 2
Two-spotted spider mites – Severity: 3
Green cloverworm active – Severity: 1
Grasshoppers active – Severity: 2
Phytophthora root & stem rot – Severity: 5