Written by Matheus Ribeiro, John Nelson, and Ritika Lamichhane Pillbugs (Armadillidium vulgare) In most cases, pillbugs (known as roly polys or snowbugs) are beneficial arthropods that are very adept at recycling nutrients. However, when present in large populations, they can shift their status from being beneficial arthropods to becoming significant pests, causing substantial injury and […] Continue reading → 
The Nebraska Soybean Board and Nebraska Extension would like to invite you to attend your local Soybean Management Field Day being held this Friday, August 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the following location: August 11th – DeWitt, NE – Randy and Blake Huls farm – Google map: http://go.unl.edu/googlemapsmfd4 The 2023 Soybean Management Field […] Continue reading → 
It is that time of year when Japanese beetles, grasshoppers, or various caterpillars consume the soybean leaf canopy. It is very easy to overestimate the amount of defoliation that has occurred, and many do not like walking and scouting soybeans this time of year. We should tolerate some low level of defoliation simply because there […] Continue reading → 
It is that time of year when Japanese beetles (Figure 1), grasshoppers, or various caterpillars consume the soybean leaf canopy. It is very easy to overestimate the amount of defoliation that has occurred. Many do not like scouting several locations within a field this time of year either but is it important. We should tolerate […] Continue reading → 
Following some issues with aphids and alfalfa weevil prior to first cutting, we now are moving on to a second major insect pest in alfalfa prior to second cutting and beyond, the potato leafhopper. Last year on June 15, we found potato leafhoppers using a sweep net during a site visit in Gage County on […] Continue reading → 
Alfalfa is the third-most grown crop in Saline, Jefferson, and Gage counties with approximately 16,500 acres. Given the current drought and hay price, I expect demand for alfalfa to remain strong. Protecting your fields from insect damage will be important. Last year, I received my first call on April 30 about alfalfa weevil and the […] Continue reading → 
Planting season can be busy and stressful, so please don’t forget to be safe when handling treated seed and check the seed tag or talk to your seed dealer for specific handling and use directions. Treated seed is another route of exposure for farmers and other handlers, whether this exposure is to fungicide, insecticide, or […] Continue reading →