Soybean Sentinel Plot Report: July 15, 2025

Overview of reports from around Pennsylvania

We have eight reports this week from extension educators in eight counties. Their reports cover fields from growth stage V6 to R1, indicating that, compared to two weeks ago, fields are growing quickly. The reports indicate low pest populations in the soybean fields that we are scouting, but there are a few instances where deer are problematic. Our reports identify bean leaf beetle, Japanese beetle, and grasshoppers as the main insect pest that are active; these are typical for this time of year. Diseases are becoming more prevalent but remain in low abundance. Scout your own fields to learn what is active in your area. Good luck!

Background on the project

This growing season the Pennsylvania Soybean Promotion Board is funding a Soybean Sentinel Plot Program, which is being managed by The Department of Entomology at Penn State and executed by Penn State Extension. In this effort, Penn State Extension Educators are regularly scouting about 25 'typical' soybean fields in about 20 counties across the state, reporting the populations of plant pathogens and insect pests that they find. Our goal is to inform the agricultural community about which pests are active across the state, so folks will have a sense of what to expect when they scout their own fields as part of an IPM program. It would be inappropriate to use these reports to justify insecticide applications.

In the reports below, pests that were found during scouting are listed with their severity, which is rated on a 1-10 scale with 10 being the highest. A severity score of 1 equates to 10% or less infestation or defoliation, a "2" aligns with 20% or less infestation or defoliation, and so on. Growers should be sure to check their own fields to determine your local populations, but these reports will indicate which pests are likely to be active in fields. Our reports are distributed via this weekly newsletter and are available via the Penn State Extension website (then search for "soybean sentinel plot").

Reports

14 July 2025 – Franklin County – Tosh Mazzone

Two fields: one near Lemasters, one near St. Thomas

Growth Stage: R1

• Grasshoppers – Severity: 1 (Lemasters only)
• Japanese beetle – Severity: 1
• Beneficial species present: honey bees, hover flies, web-building spiders, spined-soldier bug
• Soybean rust – Severity: 1 (St. Thomas only)

14 July 2025 – Butler County – Stephen Campbell

Field near Saxonburg

Growth Stage: R1

• Japanese beetle – Severity: 1
• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• White-tailed deer – Severity:
• Beneficial species present: lady beetles
• Septoria brown spot – Severity: 1

11 July 2025 – Northumberland County – Anna Hodgson

Field near Danville

Growth Stage: V6

• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• Green cloverworm– Severity: 1
• Potato leafhopper – Severity: 1
• Beneficials present: damsel bugs
• Septoria brown spot – Severity: 1
• Sudden death syndrome – Severity: 1

11 July 2025 – Columbia County – Anna Hodgson

Field near Bloomsburg

Growth Stage: R3

• Grasshoppers – Severity: 1
• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• Japanese beetle – Severity: 1
• Green cloverworm– Severity: 1
• Beneficials present: Bumble bees, honey bees, fireflies
• Septoria brown spot – Severity: 1
• Sudden death syndrome – Severity: 1

10 July 2025 – Butler County – Stephen Campbell

Field near Saxonburg

Growth Stage: R1

• Grasshoppers – Severity: 1
• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• White-tailed deer – Severity: 4
• Beneficial species present: honey bees, lady beetles, wolf spiders
• No diseases noted

10 July 2025 – Beaver County – Stephen Campbell

Field near Fombell

Growth Stage: R1

• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• White-tailed deer – Severity: 4
• Beneficial species present: fireflies
• No diseases noted

8 July 2025 – Perry County – Ashley Isaacson

Field near Duncannon

Growth Stage: R1

• Grasshoppers – Severity: 1
• Bean leaf beetle – Severity: 1
• White-tailed deer – Severity: 1
• Cercospora leaf blight – Severity: 1

7 July 2025 – York County – Heidi Reed

One field near Fawn Grove

Growth Stage: R1

• Grasshoppers – Severity: 1
• Mexican bean beetle – Severity: 1
• Japanese beetle – Severity: 1
• White-tailed deer – Severity: 3
• Downy mildew – Severity: 1

7 July 2025 – Lancaster County – Jeff Graybill

Field near Manheim

Growth stage: R2

• Grasshoppper – Severity: 1
• Septoria brown spot – Severity: 1