UMN Extension Field Crop IPM Podcasts

Pesticide regulation in the news for the 2022 growing season

Dr. Trisha Leaf from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pesticide & Fertilizer Division discusses how pesticide regulation works at the federal and state level. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is federal law that governs how pesticides are registered, distributed, sold, and used in the U.S (i.e., "the label is the law"). Recently, tolerances of a common insecticide, chlorpyrifos, were revoked on all food and feed crops and is no longer permitted for agricultural use in 2022. Enlist Duo has also undergone label changes where initially use was not permitted in six MN counties due to endangered species concerns, but after review, use is now permitted after determining those species are not present in those counties.

A retrospective on 38 years of corn entomology with Ken Ostlie

Dr. Ken Ostlie looks back on his career as a corn entomologist ranging from starting off in the middle of the farming and fiscal crisis of the 80s, how Extension has changed, the introduction of Bt corn, and of course, corn pests. Much of his research directly worked with farmers and he stresses to always remember that farmers are real people out in the environment that are the best resource for telling researchers and educators what farmers need the most. Dr. Ostlie will still be around from time to time as an emeritus professor.

Soybean breeding and pest management

Soybean breeding can be a complicated process, but it is one of the tools used for research at the U of M to manage pests such as soybean cyst nematode, soybean aphid, and diseases like Phytophthora root rot. More information on and availability of publicly available U of MN crop varieties can be found at: https://www.mncia.org/.

What's living in your grain bin?

Common insects infested stored grains can include weevils, India meal moth, and mold feeding insects. Indian meal moth larvae leave behind tell-tale webbing that causes clumping in grain and can be especially noticeable when you skim the top of an infested grain pile with your hand. For more information on managing stored grain pests, visit: https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2021/09/prevent-stored-grain-pest-issues-before.html

What are your neighbors doing for pest management?

Liz Stahl, U of M Regional Extension Educator based out of Worthington, discusses what she has learned from the annual IPM Assessment, a survey of growers across the state about their pest management use and concerns. Perceptions on what neighbors are doing can influence grower decisions, though one farmer after seeing this survey data remarked, "Wow, I thought all my neighbors were using fungicide on their corn." Often times, growers are using less pesticide than we might perceive.