Market Farming

["Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>]

The soybean aphid was just introduced about 5-10 years ago, probably through O'Hare airport in Chicago, which seems to be the epicenter. The new Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle is also an introduced insect. Both are exploding because of the huge acreage of soybean crops supporting the aphids, which support the beetles. The problem with the beetles is that they love to eat fruit, especially soft fruit like berries, grapes and peaches. They will also get into apples if they are injured or cracked. I've seen apples that were just a dry shell, eaten out from the inside, due the the Asian Multicolored Lady Beetle. They've become a major pest for berry and grape growers in my area. You don't want to taste a batch of wine made with just a couple of these beetles in it. We're really making things tough for ourselves with these novel insect introductions.

 

Bill Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
Univ of Illinois - St Charles Hort Research Center

 

Here’s an article that appeared in yesterday’s Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4053400.html

 

The state has had to employ pilots from as far away as Texas and Arkansas to come up and spray.  To date, they’ve sprayed over 1.5 million acres of soybeans. 

 

It is amazing how fast these buggers have spread, since they’ve only been in our state for three years.

 

Take care,

 

Dave Lilligren

Sandstone, MN