Written with contributions by Paul O. Johnson, former SDSU Extension Weed Science Coordinator; David Vos; Jill Alms; Leon J. Wrage; Bradley McManus; Ciera Kotaska; Nabina Karki; and Sierra Mesman.
The South Dakota Pest Management guides are now available for free. The guides offer recommendations for controlling weeds, insects, and diseases in a variety of South Dakota crops.
Aster yellows is a phytoplasmal disease carried and introduced by aster leafhopper. It is known to infect over 80 different plant families, as the aster leafhopper has extremely broad feeding habits.
Western bean cutworm caterpillars have been reported in South Dakota corn. This pest can cause yield loss by feeding on the tassels, silks, and ears. In addition, ear feeding activities increase the likelihood of secondary diseases and mold growth on the ear.
In 2022, researchers detected soybean tentiform leafminer in McCook, Minnehaha, and Moody counties in South Dakota. The extent of the distribution of this pest in South Dakota is unknown and is currently being investigated.