Aphid Scouting Continues in Small Grains,
Armyworm and Variegated cutworm
Aphids, particularly the bird cherry oat aphid, are abundant in many fields. Scouting this past week indicates that fields that are heading to flowering have had the larger populations of aphids when compared to younger fields. The bird cherry oat aphid prefers to feed on foliage, so parting the canopy reveals their presence lower in the plants.

Northwest Minnesota Field Days and
Wheat & Barley Plot Tours

Annual Northwest Research and Outreach Center Field Day Wednesday                July 11             Registration at 8 a. m.
Northwest Research and Outreach Center
Crookston, Minnesota

Grasshoppers Causing Some Concern in Region
Well, it seems to be time for the insect of the week! There have been reports from numerous locations here in the RRV and some of the drier areas to the east of small grasshoppers both in CRP, ditches, roadsides, fields, etc.

Soybean Rust Update - Mostly Quiet
Reports on soybean rust surveillance have been quiet. With the latest report out of Texas, things get a little more interesting. These reports indicate soybean rust infections in commercial fields.

Report on Biofuel Project: B100 Use in Tractors
University Park, Pennsylvania (June 7, 2007)--A collaborative biofuel demonstration project involving Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and machinery manufactured by Case New Holland is attracting worldwide attention and appears to have ramifications for the makers and users of all types of diesel-powered equipment.

Protein Enhancement Of Wheat
Nitrogen losses through leaching and denitrification associated with the heavy rainfall this season have become significant in parts of the state. The most severely nitrogen-stressed wheat fields appear yellow and yields will obviously be negatively impacted. Other fields that have excellent yield potential may come up short on grain protein at harvest if nitrogen demand during grain filling exceeds the amount available from the soil.