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Purple-brown caterpillar with orange head on a green corn leaf.

Common Stalk Borer Activity Estimate: April 29, 2021

As temperatures continue to warm up, degree days are beginning to accumulate a little faster for common stalk borers. Most of South Dakota is still between conditions approaching egg hatch and egg hatch occurring.

Hand holding herbicide sprayer over vegetable garden.

Organic Herbicides: Garden and Flower Bed Weed Control

Many South Dakota homeowners do not want to use inorganic or synthetic herbicides due to potential health impacts. Organic herbicides can be a useful tool for weed control when combined with other management practices.

Four common South Dakota ticks: American dog, Rocky Mountain wood, blacklegged and Lonestar.

Be On the Lookout for Ticks

Ticks are one of the first pests to show up during spring. Learn some common ticks to watch out for in South Dakota, along with tips for preventing bites and removing ticks from your skin and clothing.

A small black bug with tan margins on the wings. This insect is resting on a grass seed head.

Drought Conditions Magnifying Impact of Black Grass Bugs

With much of South Dakota continuing to experience moderate-to-extreme drought conditions, black grass bugs could become a concern in some areas. Large populations of black grass bugs can cause severe damage to pasture.

Top: Army cutworm caterpillar. Bottom: Pale western cutworm caterpillar.

Monitor Wheat for Early-Season Cutworm Activity

It's finally warming up in South Dakota, and insect activity in wheat fields will be increasing. For wheat, a couple of early-season pests that may already be active are the army cutworm and the pale western cutworm.

Grain bin fan with a plywood cover installed on the exterior.

Check Your Bins This Spring

As it warms up this spring, don’t forget to check the bins. Grain bins work as solar heat collectors, and the grain inside of them may be much warmer than expected.

A farmer watching the sun rise in a bare, unplanted field.

Crop Tolerance to Soil Herbicide Residual

Some herbicides can persist in soil, especially dry soil. Herbicide carryover could be an issue in 2021 across the state depending upon last year’s moisture levels and field conditions.

Gray caterpillar with dark markings, white splotches and a white stripe running down the middle of its back.

It’s Time to Scout Alfalfa for Cutworms

One of the earliest insect pests that can be found in South Dakota’s alfalfa fields are army cutworms. Injury from cutworms can sometimes be overlooked until large patches of an alfalfa field have been “cut.”

Farmer standing over insecticide jug in wheatgrass field

A Ban or New Rules for Chlorpyifos May Be Coming Soon

Recently, a federal appeals court gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a 60-day deadline to either ban insecticides containing chlorpyrifos or set new guidelines for its use.

Green beetle larvae with a white stripe running down its body.

Alfalfa Weevil Activity Prediction Update: May 6, 2021

The cooler temperatures the last few days probably slowed down alfalfa weevils again, but everyone should be scouting fields due to the possibility of alfalfa weevil activity.