The following is from Eric Anderson, Michigan State University Extension field crops Extension educator in St. Joseph County.
I will begin trapping for WBC (western bean cutworm) on Monday (June 19)—peak flight is not expected for another few weeks, but we want to be sure to be ahead of the game. I will report catch numbers via this newsletter but will also be submitting them to our insect pest specialist, Chris DiFonzo, and to the WBC Trap Network (Canada-based, but they were kind enough to include Michigan this year).
If you had particularly high WBC pressure last year and would like to have a trap at one of your fields, contact me right away. I can either add you to my route or you can do the counts yourself and report them to me. I will supply the trap, pheromone caps and kill strip (makes counting much more "enjoyable").
The first sighting of soybean aphids has been made in northern Indiana (St. Joseph/Marshall county line) in V2 soybeans. According to Purdue's Christian Krupke and John Obermeyer, aphids do not typically reach treatment thresholds in this area, but monitoring is recommended.
The Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) at Michigan State University will be taking admission applications for fall 2017 until Aug. 15. IAT offers programs on MSU campus and 10 Community College partners around the state, including Kellogg Community College, Glen Oaks Community College and Southwestern Michigan College. Ninety-five percent of the graduates are employed at the time of graduation in high-paying positions around the country. For more information about the education opportunities provided by IAT, go to http://www.canr.msu.edu/iat/apply_to_iat/.
Are you interested in learning more about transitioning part or all of your farming operation to organic production? Like to take a field trip to Wisconsin (just south of Madison) to learn from a farm who has made the switch?
Doudlah Farm, also known as FarmRite Organics, is hosting a free field day on Aug. 3. Let me know if you are interested (269/467-5510) and I will organize a trip if we have a good-size group.