(S7:E10): Mite we see a few soybean pests this summer?
This podcast episode focuses on a few recent pest updates, like soybean aphid, twospotted spider mites, and a mix of defoliators. Matt talks about spider mite activity in some of his research plots and...
View Article(S7:E11): Aphid resistance is our new reality
The podcast took a break while Matt was on vacation and Erin was on the extension circuit. But they're back and talking about recent pest activity in Iowa. First, Erin shares updates about treating for...
View Article(S7:E12): Busy extension week
[Apologies for the poor sound quality of Erin's microphone] In this podcast episode, Matt and Erin recap a few extension activities they recently participated in this week. It started with being an...
View Article(S7:E13): Ag mergers and pesticides in the news
Today, Matt and Erin talk about noteworthy news items related to field crop pest management. But first, they talk about upcoming meetings they plan to attend. Both are attending the ICE (International...
View Article(S7:E14): De-Icing from the bug meeting
Due to technical difficulty, this is a second take at the podcast today. Matt and Erin start by sharing highlights from the recent International Congress of Entomology (ICE) meeting in Orlando last...
View Article(S7:E15): Interview with Ric Bessin: wireworms, stink bugs and bee stings
In this episode, Matt and Erin interview the 2016 Gunderson Memorial Seminar speaker, Dr. Ric Bessin. Ric is a professor and extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky. His areas of extension...
View Article(S7:E16): Fall round up: all potatoes and no gravy
Matt and Erin wrap up a few loose ends before the holiday week. First, Matt shares DowAgroSciences sulfoxaflor insecticide got a renewed registration. This insecticide targets fluid-feeding insects and...
View Article(S7:E17): Insecticides up for review
It's the first podcasting episode of 2017! Matt and Erin talk briefly about a few topics related to insecticides today. First, Erin recaps the findings of her insecticide resistance project from 2016....
View Article(S7:E18): You mite want to listen to this one: spider mite management
In this episode, Matt and Erin talk about managing twospotted spider mites in soybean. Considering other pests is important, given the non-target effects with an application. This is particularly true...
View Article(S7:E19): It's the Flu Game!
Matt's a bit under the weather in this episode, but that won't stop his awesome commentary (see connection to Michael Jordan here)! Today, Matt and Erin talk about a new research development with...
View Article(S6:E13): Aphids, now!
In this podcast, Matt and Erin talk about recent aphid developments in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Soybean aphid numbers are steadily climbing and aphids in corn are making a rare appearance...
View Article(S6:E14): What do aphids and rootworms have in common?
In this episode, Matt and Erin start by talking about foliar insecticide sprays for soybean aphid. Erin has a large efficacy evaluation program and screens many different products every year. She...
View Article(S6:E15): Stop touching me!
If a soybean aphids could talk, I would imagine them screaming, " Stop touching me!". Many Iowan fields are infested with soybean aphid this summer. Erin and Matt talk about what to do when these...
View Article(S6:E16): Back to school!
Today is the first day of school at Iowa State and campus is buzzing. Matt and Erin talk about persisting soybean aphid populations in Iowa and why fields need to be scouted. If you have questions or...
View Article(S6:E17): What worries you?
In this episode, Matt and Erin talk about end-of-season soybean aphid populations in Iowa. Matt also shares results from a recent CCA poll from ISU Sociologist J. Arbuckle. He summarizes perceptions...
View Article(S6:E18): The pros of conservation
In this episode, Matt and Erin transition from providing weekly field crop pest updates to other topics of interest. They discuss the new assessment form provided by the Xerces Society to help farmers...
View Article(S6:E19): EPA ruling transforms neonicotinoid registration
In this episode, Matt and Erin break down a recent ruling to vacate the unconditional registration of sulfoxaflor. In other words, the EPA registration for sulfoxaflor, in products like Transform and...
View Article(S6:E20): Interview with Dominic Reisig
Today, Matt and Erin ask our 2015 Gunderson Memorial Lecture speaker, Dr. Dominic Reisig, a few questions about his research and extension program. Dominic is a field crop entomologist at North...
View Article(S6:E21): Too many damn bees?!
Today, Matt and Erin comment on a recent letter to the editor about too many "bees" on the ISU campus (see letter here: http://bit.ly/1LNbQGS). They talk about the real culprit, yellowjacket wasps, and...
View Article(S6:E22): Nuisance pests and smear campaigns
In this episode, Matt starts by sharing some of the night life stops in Dubuque, Iowa. Erin talks about common nuisance invaders moving into homes during this extended fall weather. Learn more about...
View Article(S6:E23): Can natural enemies delay resistance to Bt crops?
Today, Matt breaks down a technical publication to Erin. This study evaluated the effect a lady beetle had on diamondback moth in Bt broccoli. Turns out, the presence of natural enemies can slow down...
View Article(S6:E24): What do you call monarch butterflies in Australia?
Today, Matt and Erin talk about the upcoming ESA meeting (Entomological Society of America) in Minneapolis next month. It's not too late to register for the meeting: http://entsoc.org/entomology2015....
View Article(S6:E25): Future of chlorpyrifos
Today, Matt and Erin talk about the recent EPA proposal to revoke all tolerances to chlorpyrifos. This insecticide is an option in corn and soybean in Iowa and restricting or removing the use could...
View Article(S6:E26): We're back (and tired) from ESA
In this episode, Matt and Erin summarize a symposium they moderated at the national ESA meeting in Minneapolis. The topic was about the cost and benefits of neonic seed treatments from several...
View Article(S6:E27): Are soybean aphids becoming resistant?
Matt and Erin recap a presentation made at ICM Conference this week. Bob Koch (University of Minnesota) talked about bifenthrin failures to soybean aphid in southern Minnesota in 2015. He performed...
View Article(S6:E28): Industry mergers and spinoffs
In this episode, Matt and Erin talk about the recent news of Dow AgroSciences and Dupont merging and possibly becoming three companies. Also, Erin talks about Crop Advantage Series, a reoccurring event...
View Article(S6:E29): More pesticide regulations in the news
Today, Matt and Erin talk about EPA's review of a popular neonic called imidacloprid. This and other active neonic ingredients have been blamed for declines in honey bee health. They share their...
View Article(S6:E30): Understanding life cycle assessments with Dr. Rosentrater
Matt and Erin have a special guest on this podcast to help understand life cycle assessments. Dr. Kurt Rosentrater is an engineer and associate professor at Iowa State. Kurt explained the basics of...
View Article(S6:E31): 11th anniversary of the Yellow Book for soybean aphid
Today in this podcast, Matt and Erin talk about a new publication summarizing insecticide evaluations for soybean aphid. The Yellow Book for soybean aphid starting in 2005 in response to a growing...
View Article(S6:E32): Wasp release for soybean aphid
Today, Matt talks about a "farminar" with PFI (Practical Farmers of Iowa) he recently recorded. It was about neonic seed treatments in soybean. Watch the archived version here:...
View Article(S6:E33): Changes in weather and pesticide use
To start this podcast, Erin recaps current growing degree days in Iowa for 2016 and how they are really different than in 2014. Visit her blog post to see some cool graphs: bit.ly/1nO0ZDd. Matt...
View Article(S7:E1): It's a new podcasting season!
Soybeans are going into the ground, and Matt and Erin have started a new podcasting season. They talk about early-season soybean pests, like black cutworm and bean leaf beetle, and the likelihood of...
View Article(S7:E2): We're podcasting in the rain on Friday the 13th
Bad weather and superstition won't keep Matt and Erin from podcasting today. Erin shares current planting progress for Iowa (80% corn and 30% soybean) according to NASS and also talks about black...
View Article(S7:E3): Aphids are everywhere this spring
In this episode, Matt and Erin talk about upcoming events, pest activity updates and research projects. Erin is organizing a Corn Insects Workshop on July 29. Learn more and register here:...
View Article(S7:E4): Announcing our new podcasting widget!
As the tagline for the new movie, Popstar, says: Never Stop Never Stopping! Today, Erin gives a short note to announce the new podcasting widget. It will be located on their Soybean Entomology Lab...
View Article(S7:E5): Interview with the ESA Executive Director
Today, Matt and Erin are in Cleveland, OH for the 2016 Annual North Central Branch Meeting of the ESA (Entomological Society of America). They have a conversation with special guest, David Gammel,...
View Article(S7:E6): Pardon the interruptions! Field crop pest updates for Iowa
Today, Matt and Erin have so much to talk about in this episode. The multiple phone calls and people stopping by Erin's office can't stop the podcast. Lab members found a few soybean aphids in central...
View Article(S7:E7): Herbicide or herbivore?
Today, Matt and Erin talk about current pest activity in Iowa. Specifically, the last week was very hot (>90 degrees) and that isn't conducive for soybean aphid growth. So no new detection since the...
View Article(S7:E8): A new pub, workshops and crops switch gears
Today, Erin is so excited to tell everyone about her new, 12-page publication called, "Getting to Know the Insects." This publication is geared to youth and new agronomists that want to learn more...
View Article(S7:E9): Drought and spider mites go together like PB & J
Don't drought this episode was a good one. Matt shares an update on the Iowa drought and encourages people to use the U.S. Drought Monitor as a tool to measure landscape moisture levels. Matt and Erin...
View Article(S7:E20): Gosh, it's hot
It's unusually warm this February episode. Like Bugs Bunny cartoon said - Gosh, it's hot! Matt and Erin talk about accumulating degree days for the state so far in 2017. Northern counties have...
View Article(S7:E21): The end (of season 7)
In the last episode of season 7, Matt and Erin talk about two new insecticide options for soybean aphid in Iowa. Movento and Sivanto by Bayer CropSciences are products that target fluid-feeding pests,...
View Article(S8:E1): Season 8: a new beginning
It's a new beginning for the podcast - Season 8 starts today! Matt and Erin have a bit of random conversation at the beginning like usual. But they eventually provide a summary of the recent new of an...
View Article(S8:E2): Cool, wet soils in Iowa
In Episode 2, Matt and Erin cover a range of topics. First, they summarize planting conditions for 2017 - most places in the state are too wet and and cold to plant. The weather also affects insect...
View Article(S8:E3): When (cut and army) worms attack!
Matt and Erin took May off from podcasting, but had a lot to talk about in the third episode of season 8. The cool, wet spring resulted in delayed planting for some; however, many of their research...
View Article(S8:E4): Don't freak out (about a few aphids)
Today, Matt and Erin cover a lot of topics. First, Erin summarizes her recent trip to Indianapolis for the 2017 North Central Branch ESA meeting. Lots of interesting papers and posters were presented...
View Article(S8:E5): Finding more aphids, being malaise, and getting F.I.T.
In this episode, Matt and Erin start off with talking about the hot weather in Ames. A local rain shower will help lawns and crops. Erin shared some updates on soybean aphid in Iowa. A few more reports...
View Article(S8:E6): Is this 2007 all over again?
In this mid-June episode, Matt and Erin start off by summarizing current soybean aphid activity around the state of Iowa. Populations are showing up over much of northern Iowa the last two weeks. Some...
View Article(S8:E7): Field crop pest updates
Today, Erin is without her podcasting bestie, Matt. She summarizes the activity of a few field crop pests in Iowa. First, she mentions Japanese beetle is active in soybean now and will move to corn...
View Article(S8:E8): Forgotten but not gone: midseason pest update
It seems like a long time since the last episode and that's because it was! Matt and Erin are back to talk about pest updates in Iowa. Drought stress throughout much of the state has been ideal for...
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