- Western bean cutworm will return to Midwestern cornfields this summer. “It has established itself in Iowa; it will not go away,” says Marlin Rice, extension entomologist at Iowa State University. “It is a permanent resident of our corn now.” And with moths captured in Michigan and Ohio in 2007, it appears western bean cutworm is continuing its march east through the Corn Belt. Last year, significant numbers of moths were trapped across northern Illinois and parts of southwestern Wisconsin, meaning extension entomologists in those states are paying close attention to the pest this year.
- The Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) and Kentucky Soybean Association (KSA) will showcase agricultural production in their states this summer as part of the Regional Exchange and Awareness Program (REAP) sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and EMD Crop BioScience. “This is a valuable opportunity for ASA growers,” said ASA President Rick Ostlie of North Dakota. “The program gives our producers a chance to better understand farming in other parts of the country and to share ideas and build relationships. The knowledge gained by participants on the REAP tour is crucial as ASA develops national policy strategies.”
- In order to organize customer and consumer efforts and provide an expanded level of service, Pro-Act has created a Consulting and Planning Service. Pro-Act Microbial’s Consulting and Planning Service is headed by Dr. Chuzhao Lin, Pro-Act’s director of research. “Manure options are getting more complex,” explains Dr. Lin. “We find that many of our customers and potential customers need help in sorting out the appropriate technology for their dairy.” Dr. Lin and her staff will be on hand to solve problems or inefficiencies, plan new systems and layouts and more.
