By Blake Jackson
An unusually warm winter followed by a wet spring created ideal conditions for slugs, making 2024 one of the toughest seasons for Pennsylvania soybean growers.
The pests thrived, laying extra eggs and doubling their population, which led to severe seedling damage and, in some cases, forced farmers to replant multiple times.
"You'll see the forecast, and it's weather we aren't used to," said Paul Esker, professor of epidemiology and field crop pathology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "Uncertainty has increasingly become a bigger part of farming. It's just the world we've been dealing with for the last several years."
To help farmers adapt, scientists at Penn State are developing innovative tools and strategies. "As a land-grant university, our mission is to take on the challenges growers face every day and deliver real-world solutions to better serve the people of Pennsylvania," said Troy Ott, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.
"Our researchers are developing technologies to help farmers increase yields, protect our natural resources, and stay resilient in a changing world."
Esker and his team created the Open Crop Manager, a free digital platform that collects field data and uses predictive models to assess pest and disease risks. "Our idea is to empower farmers by getting their data back in their hands," Esker said.
"We are providing insights that can help farmers make more informed agricultural decisions and that ultimately can improve outcomes."
Sara Hermann, Tombros Early Career Professor and assistant professor of arthropod ecology and trophic interactions is exploring biological pest control using predator scents.
"It's like a human walking up to a building smelling smoke and thinking, 'Hmm, maybe this isn't a good place for me to go,'" Hermann said. "The aphids do something similar." Her method reduces aphid activity without chemicals.
Precision agriculture is also advancing through partnerships like John Deere’s See & Spray system. "We now have the ability to apply herbicides only where weeds are present within the field," said John Wallace, associate professor of weed science.
Sustainable Recommendations for Crop Management:
- Adopt digital tools like Open Crop Manager for better decisions.
- Monitor pest patterns using data-driven insights regularly.
- Explore biological pest control methods to reduce chemicals.
- Invest in precision technologies like targeted spraying systems.
- Use weather forecasts and predictive models to plan ahead.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Soybeans, Weather