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4-H Physics Project

If you have ever wondered how and why an object behaves a certain way, you may be interested in studying physics. Physics works to understand the universe’s behavior through studying matter and its motion, along with energy and forces.

female 4-H youth holding a white duck

4-H Poultry & Eggs Project

The poultry project area is for all youth interested in chickens, pigeons, waterfowl, game birds, and turkeys. In the poultry project youth have the opportunity to show their birds, and their chicken’s eggs, at Achievement Days and the South Dakota State Fair.

Silhouette of a plant against a blurred sunset background

4-H Plant Science, Crops & Weeds Project

Plant a seed and grow your knowledge in the plant science, crops, and weeds 4-H project area! Learn through experience by planting your own garden or analyzing a section of field from planting to harvest.

Two common caterpillar pests of corn. Top: Corn earworm caterpillar. Bottom: European corn borer.

A Case of Mistaken Caterpillar Identity

Tweets about European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) caterpillars in the stems of conventional corn and feeding in the whorls of corn are crossing my Twitter feed. Unfortunately, there is a problem with some of these tweets. Not all of the caterpillars that are being identified as European corn borer caterpillars are actually European corn borer caterpillars!

Three colored bean leaf beetles. From left: brown, red, and yellow.

Bean Leaf Beetles Are Back: Adults Observed Near Beresford

Earlier this year, we observed a large emergence of overwintering bean leaf beetles throughout much of the state. We are again observing quite a few bean leaf beetles beginning to emerge. These emerging beetles are the result of overwintering beetles mating and laying eggs.

Base of soybean stem with orange larvae present under the epidermis.

How to Scout For Soybean Gall Midge

Soybean gall midge have been reported in three counties in South Dakota in the past week: Clay, Union and Lincoln. Scouting for soybean gall midge can be as simple as finding wilting or dying plants along the edge of the field, or it can be rather difficult if the plants are currently asymptomatic.

Gray beetle with long antennae that are alternating white and black pattern on green leaf petiole.

Dectes Stem Borer Adults Active in Sunflower

In South Dakota, one of the insects that is commonly observed in sunflower is the Dectes stem borer larva. At this point in the season, adults are beginning to become active with females laying eggs in sunflower plants.

Green wheat with many green stink bugs present on it.

Say’s Stinkbug Present in Western S.D. Wheat: Do I Spray?

While looking at winter wheat at the new SDSU West River Research Farm near Sturgis, we came across some very large stinkbug populations in a few areas of the field. The stinkbugs we observed were the Say’s stinkbugs. Although stinkbugs have the potential to reduce wheat yields, this is attributed with feeding that occurs between the late boot and milk stage.

Dark green and tan curled caterpillars with an orange stripe along their sides.

Watch for True Armyworms in Wheat

This week we observed some true armyworm caterpillars in winter wheat fields. The caterpillars were still relatively small, which means they will continue feeding for some time. So far, the true armyworm caterpillars were still feeding on the leaves of the nearly mature wheat, but they have the potential to also clip heads off of the plants.

Soybean leaves with several bright green lesions progressing into tears with brown crusting along the edges.

Bacterial Blight Common in Soybean Fields

Several soybean fields scouted the week of July 15, 2019 were found with bacterial blight developing. The frequent rains experienced in most soybean growing counties have led to the development of this disease. Bacterial blight affected leaves are most evident on younger leaves in the upper canopy.