Aphids Population Makes Big Jump

Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Soybean Aphids are eating their way across South-East South Dakota. Moody County Extension Agronomist Paul Johnson says the aphid population has exploded in the last two weeks, but he says the growth is concentrated to some fields much more than others.

Johnson says natural predators of aphids may have been holding the population back until recently.

Not everyone who has aphids in the fields needs to be concerned though. According to Johnson many soybeans have already reached the R-6 stage. After that level of maturity, spraying no longer is necessary.