Significant numbers of soybean aphids are attacking soybeans throughout Central Illinois. In many fields the levels have exceeded the economic threshold and are being sprayed. Farmers should be scouting fields to determine their risk from this pest.

This aphid over-winters as eggs on a woody shrub called buckthorn. This plant is fairly common in fencerows and scrub areas. Some buckthorn species have even been used in landscaping. In the spring the aphids hatch out as a winged aphid and fly to soybean fields. They mate and produce a wingless population of aphids. This wingless population can build rapidly. Under certain conditions the population can double every 2-3 days. These aphids damage the plants by sucking the plant sap and stealing needed moisture and nutrients from the plant. This added stress causes pods to abort and seed size to be reduced. They can cause secondary problems, the plants get coated with a sticky residue that is a good growth medium for a black fungus called sooty mold. This layer of "goo" can actually reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the leaves. Early infestations cause yield losses averaging over 40% in one study in Minnesota.
When the population reaches a certain threshold the wingless aphids will produce a winged generation that will fly off and look for new fields to infest.

We have been using a threshold of 25 aphids per leaflet. Fortunately for us, unfortunately for them, Wisconsin over the last two years has been having higher aphid populations than us. This has enabled them to do some research to refine the threshold. Research in Wisconsin determined that thresholds vary with the growth stages of the soybean plants 200+ aphids per plant at full bloom (R2), 1,000+ aphids per plant at beginning pod (R3), and 1,500+ aphids per plant at full pod (R4). However if more than half of the aphids are developing wings they are probably getting ready to fly away and a treatment may not be economical.

The insecticides suggested for control of soybean aphids are Asana XL at 5.9 to 9.6 ounces per acre, Furadan 4F at 1/2 pint per acre, Lorsban 4E at 1 to 2 pints per acre, Mustang Max at 2.8 to 4 ounces per acre, Penncap-M at 1 to 3 pints per acre, and Warrior at 1.92 to 3.2 ounces per acre. As we get closer to harvest be sure to check the pre-harvest interval (PHI) restriction of any insecticide treatments. The PHI restrictions for the products listed range from 20 to 45 days.

- Dennis Bowman, Extension Crop Systems Educator

Tight stocks, steady livestock numbers, Chinese soybean imports, and a weakening of the dollar have combined to draw the picture for corn and soybean markets this year, says Dr. Parry Dixon, Director of Economic Research for ADM. Dixon spoke to 75 farmers August 19 attending the U of I Extension seed plot tour, and said the recent dryness was bringing traders' expectations about the size of the crop into line with the August 1 USDA estimates.

Dixon said the 2002 moderate yields drew down wheat and feed grain stocks to the tightest supply-use ratio in 30-40 years. He added that "decent level of usage" combined with a minimum carryout this year has set up the 2003-04 marketing year to be one that farmers should watch carefully for marketing opportunities.

Livestock production, which consumes majority amounts of corn and soybean meal, has been essentially capped, according to Dixon, because environmental and political forces have prevented facility expansion. The beef herd is down, pork supplies are 4 percent less, and poultry numbers are steady at best, which means feed corn use will not grow. Dixon said more livestock is being produced in Mexico, Canada, Asia and Eastern Europe near population centers where world meat markets are growing. However, the US participation has been relegated to exporting bulk grain that is converted to feed for added value benefits overseas.

Dixon said China has surprised everyone with large imports of US beans, at the same time that nation is reducing its corn stocks with large exports. However, the soybean trade has been unsteady because China periodically denies import licenses for GMO beans, and any increase in that policy would leave a lot of soybeans in US stockpiles.
The increasing currency value of the Euro in relationship to the Dollar has priced US soybeans at more attractive rates, which South American currencies have strengthened. Dixon said Brazil is challenged by the Chinese market because the Brazilian policy is that no GMO beans exist in that nation, yet 80-90 percent of the soybeans in the southern third of Brazil is Roundup Ready. He anticipates a 5 percent acreage increase in the next growing cycle, which means a continued surplus of soybeans will hit the market in February and March of 2004, leading to a bearish market next year.

With 130 to 150 million bushels of soybean carryout at the end of the 2002-03 marketing year, and a late soybean harvest because of slow plant growth, the US will run out of soybeans, unless the size of the prior crop was underestimated by USDA.

Francis Childs holds that official record from the National Corn Growers yield contest, and the Iowa farmer recently revealed some of his secrets while speaking at a field day sponsored by Soy Capital Ag Services.

1. Do you have your planter adjusted to the optimum setting? Seed placement and optimum soil contact are two concerns about planter selection. How many times during a day do you check to see how the seed is going in the ground? The seed monitor only gives you partial information, and you need to get out of the tractor cab, dig up a foot or two of the row, and visually inspect what is happening to seed placement and soil contact.

2. Do you attempt to save money by lowering your population? A population of 44,000 is high if you are not in a contest, but if the recommended population is not in the ground the yield will not go to the bin. The old hybrids had an indeterminate ear size. If the population was not high enough and there were sufficient nutrients available, the plant would put on a larger ear. Modern hybrids tend to have determinate-sized ears. They perform best putting on a primary ear that is consistent size regardless of the available nutrient level. This type of genetics requires minimum recommended populations for the hybrid. Ideally you should reset your planter every time you change seed varieties.

3. What is your practice in walking your fields? Francis Childs walks his fields 20 times during a growing season. Depending on the number of acres you farm that may take some time. But, if you know what is going on in the field, you can treat the problems that occur. If you can save 7 bushels of corn per acre you can pay for the cost of a $14 preventative or rescue treatment. Japanese beetles and corn rootworms are probably here to stay. A little knowledge can pay large dividends.

4. Do you take tissue tests during the year? Nutrients may be present, but imbalanced; or disease may be hindering nutrient absorption. By the time a plant indicates a lack of a micronutrients or nitrogen, the stress has already reduced yield potential. Tissue testing can tell you what is starting to happen during the last half of the growing season and may give you time to improve the situation before it becomes a problem.

5. Do you stop the combine every hour and look at what is coming out? It is great to have big healthy plants. But, you only get paid for the corn that gets sold. Combine adjustment is almost as important as perfect planter adjustment. Cracked kernels or foreign matter means a dock in price. Corn left in the field means no price.

6. Do you do test soil, and if so, how often? Soil testing is key if you are planning to have high yields. In order to plan for 250 bushel corn tomorrow it is important to know what is in the today. Unless you know what is in the soil you are guessing at what the plant needs.

Francis Childs may have high organic content in the soil, a specially designed plow, and a planter of his own design that helped him surpass the 400 bushel per acre threshold. But the difference between 180 bushel corn and 200 bushel corn is two more kernel rows per ear; and the difference between 210 bushel and 250 bushel corn is 5000 plants per acre. Those could be easily achieved with these six practices.

Marketing Club Meeting—SEPT. 11
The meeting is open to the public and will center on the marketing of corn and soybeans. The featured speaker will be Sue Martin, President of Ag & Investment Services, who will address the club by telephone. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m., and pre-registration is not necessary. All farmers and landowners are welcome.

What is in a "Lease"?—SEPT. 16
Paul Mariman, Farm Business Educator, will review cash and share lease issues, leasing trends and cash lease values in Illinois. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing—DEC. 3
Dennis Bowman, Crop Specialist and Randy Throckmorton, USDA, will present the training part of the program. Following the training, the pesticide applicator test will be given. Class will start promptly at 6:00 p.m.

Estate Planning for the Farm—DEC. 4
James Endress and Paul Mariman, Extension Farm Business Educators, will be speaking on issues concerning your farm and how to plan for the future. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Private Pesticide Applicator Training and Testing—JAN. 22, 2004
Dennis Bowman, Crop Specialist and Randy Throckmorton, USDA, will present the training part of the program. Following the training, the pesticide applicator test will be given. Class will start promptly at 6:00 p.m.

All of the events will be held in the Illini Room of the Extension Conference Center at 2535 Millikin Parkway. Pre-registration is required by calling 217/877-6042, unless otherwise noted

University of Illinois Extension collaborated with Farm Business Farm Management in Macon County for a detailed survey of corn yields at the end of July. Survey teams collected 124 samples throughout the county on July 28 and 29. The field teams reported surprise in the variation in the yield of the individual samples, as well as the amount of insect pressure the crop from Japanese beetles and corn rootworms.

The samples varied almost 190 bushels from the highest yielding sample of 248 to the lowest of 60. Most of the yield problems came from poor pollination, in part due to silk clipping. The teams also found some significant wind damage and the potential for a lot of lodged corn in the fall.

Mark Harris, Chief of the crops branch of the National Agriculture Statistics Service, which calculates USDA estimates, praised the survey procedures used in the survey. He said the large number of samples ensures statistical reliability of the results.

The average yield for the county was 170 bushels per acre. This would be the fourth best yield in the last 20 years and the third best yield in the last 10. The record for Macon County was set in 1994 at 184 bushels per acre.

As this issue of the Resource Review is being mailed, Extension and FBFM are conducting a soybean yield survey and the results will be published next issue.

Topflight Grain Cooperative conducted its annual 2003 Yield Tour on August 21, and estimated the corn yield in their marketing area at 167 bushel per acre. This compares with estimates of 134 in 2002 and 164 in 2001. The field surveyors reported wind damage and some corn rootworms that had caused some lodging. The Macon County portion of the Topflight survey estimated 174 bushels of corn around Maroa and 153 bushels around the Emery elevators.

The soybean survey reported an average of 39 pods per plant in 30-inch rows, 36 pods per plant in the 15-inch rows and 32 pods per plant in 7-inch row. Field surveyors reported soybeans desperately needed rain. Soybean aphids were also a growing concern.