Category Archives: Commodity

Have a thrips plan ready for cotton and peanut in 2026

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With a good rain today (Thursday May 7), now is a good time to consider your plan for thrips management in cotton and peanuts for 2026.

The first step is to consider how your planting date affects your thrips management, using the thrips risk predictor tool from NC State. This tool forecasts the risk of heavy thrips injury to cotton, specific to a given location and target plant date. An example output from the tool at the Tidewater AREC in Suffolk can be seen below. Because the model uses local weather data, the closer to planting you are when you check, the more accurate the model will be. In this example, the model looks very different than when it was checked prior to today’s weather. It will also change significantly for different locations, so it is worth your time to enter your own information. As of May 7, for the Tidewater AREC, cotton planted between 5/9 and 5/12 will be at elevated risk for thrips injury.

Cotton planted into the high risk windows may benefit from the addition of an in-furrow insecticide targeting thrips. You can also recheck the model after planting to target your scouting efforts and determine the need for foliar insecticides. In the above example, if we had planted cotton on 4/29, we would be monitoring it carefully for thrips injury as it emerges and grows. The most consistent economic return on a foliar thrips spray will come from an application just as the first true leaf is visible. The thrips risk model also generates an optimal spray date, as indicated by the red dot on the figure below. This is an underutilized feature of the tool, and we are testing the value of this model output in the 2026 season.

This tool is specifically designed for cotton, but planting date also has an impact on thrips in peanut. In 2025, we found significantly higher thrips pressure and tomato spotted wilt virus incidence in early planted (late April) peanuts relative to mid or late may. Imidacloprid (Admire Pro) in furrow at planting can provide some thrips suppression, but efficacy has decreased over time, and it is likely insufficient for high-risk scenarios. There are other at-plant options including AgLogic and Thimet, but they are more expensive. We are generating more extensive efficacy data for all at-plant options in 2026. For earlier planted peanuts, scout carefully to determine the need for a foliar application in addition to at-plant insecticides.

The next thing to consider is what insecticide to use, if a foliar application is made. In 2025, we identified tobacco thrips populations with reduced susceptibility to Acephate in Virginia (~ 75-79% mortality on average). We are continuing to monitor this situation in 2026. Hemi SC provides excellent control for both tobacco thrips and western flower thrips and is a viable alternative. This product must be applied either in combination with an herbicide or with a non-ionic surfactant to achieve good control. For peanut, Exirel (cyantraniliprole) can provide good control as a foliar application.

One additional consideration for foliar management are differences in species composition. Western flower thrips have histroically been more difficult to manage with acephate. In 2025, we had a higher proportion of western flower thrips in cotton than usual. Look out for future updates on species composition for 2026.

Managing Fusarium Head Blight Risk as Drought Accelerates Wheat Development in Virginia

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Update: 4/20/2026. Drought conditions remain moderate to severe across much of Virginia. Although a weather system moved through the state on April 19, most major small grain production areas received little rainfall (<0.1 inch). Combined with the warm temperatures observed last week, these dry conditions are accelerating winter wheat development. Much of the wheat in the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Eastern Shore has headed or is approaching heading, and some fields have started flowering.

As of April 20, 2026, the risk of Fusarium Head Blight is low across most production regions, although pockets of moderate risk remain. Fields planted no-till into corn residue are at greater risk, especially when susceptible varieties were used. Growers with susceptible wheat planted into no-till corn stubble may still benefit from a timely fungicide application.

Because heat and drought can move wheat through growth stages more quickly than expected, scout fields frequently so fungicides can still be applied at the correct stage, Feekes 10.5.1 (beginning flowering).

–Douglas S. Higgins, Plant Pathologist, Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center

New Soybean Variety Selection Tool Now LIVE — Complete with All 2025 OVT Yield Data

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Posted on behalf of: Dr. Carrie Ortel, Soybean Agronomist

Each year, the Virginia Tech Soybean Agronomy Program conducts the Official Variety Trials (OVT), evaluating a wide range of commercially available soybean varieties to provide farmers with unbiased, research-based information for variety selection. Traditionally, these results are compiled into a VCE factsheet and shared during winter extension meetings in January and February.

This year, growing interest in earlier access to results encouraged our team to launch a new interactive Soybean Variety Selection Tool, allowing producers to explore yield data as soon as it becomes available. The familiar VCE factsheet—including seed grading information—will still be published in early 2026, but this new tool offers a more timely and dynamic way to view performance data throughout the harvest season.

How to Use the New Soybean Variety Selection Tool

  1. Access the tool
    Visit the VT TAREC Soybean Agronomy website or go directly to the tool here:
    https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/5c3af27d-2168-4108-8ead-09194ec4d43e/page/C49wE
  2. Filter the data
    Use the buttons on the left side of the page to filter results based on:
    • System (full-season or double-crop)
    • Location
    • Group (field-determined relative maturity grouping)
    • Brand
    • Variety
    • Herbicide package
    • Relative maturity group
    • Yield (bu/ac)
    • Relative yield (percentage of maximum yield at that site and group)
  1. Sort columns
    Click any column header to sort the table and explore trends.
  2. Access company tech sheets
    Want more information? Click any variety name to open the associated company tech sheet. You will have a redirect notice appear, the new web link should begin with https://arec.vaes.vt.edu, followed by variety information, indicating you’re continuing to a safe VT site with the PDF available.
  3. View archived results
    To explore last year’s dataset, change the “Planting Year” filter to 2024.
  4. Share your feedback
    Use the “Let us know what you think!” button to submit anonymous comments and suggestions.
  5. Learn more about the tool
    Click the “?” icon for a detailed overview of how everything works.

Why This Tool Matters

Our goal is to deliver timely, unbiased, and easy-to-interpret variety trial results to support producers in making confident variety selection decisions. While the 2025 yield data is now live, remember that results from a single year should be considered preliminary. That’s why archived data from previous years remains accessible—you’ll get a clearer picture by comparing performance over time.

We encourage growers to select multiple top-performing varieties across several maturity groups, ensuring coverage of the herbicide and disease resistance traits needed for success on your farm.

Thank You

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who made this tool and the 2025 OVT season possible. Special thanks to Chris Mitchell, VT CALS Web Manager, and Suzanne Pruitt, Tidewater AREC Communicator, for their guidance and support in bringing the Soybean Variety Selection Tool to life.

We are also grateful to our colleagues across the Virginia Tech Agricultural Research and Extension Centers for hosting trial plots: Dr. Joseph Oakes and his team at the EasternVirginia AREC; Dr. Arash Rashed, Ned Jones, and Laura DeBusk at the Southern Piedmont AREC; Dr. Mark Reiter and Andrew Fletcher at the Eastern Shore AREC; and Jenny Sheetz at the Northern Piedmont Center.

Finally, we appreciate the participating seed companies for contributing their top varieties to the soybean OVT and supporting research that benefits growers across Virginia.

Questions or Suggestions?

We’d love to hear from you.
Contact: Carrie Ortel — carrieo@vt.edu

Soybean Aphids Found in Mid-Season Soybeans

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Robbie Longest, Essex County Extension Agent

Carrie Ortel, Extension Soybean Agronomist

Tim Bryant, Extension Entomologist

Recently, soybean aphids have been confirmed at higher populations than typically expected in August. While many folks are scouting for worms and stinkbugs, we also recommend looking for aphids in your soybean fields as well. The key variables to consider regarding managing soybean aphids are the number of aphids per plant and the soybean growth stage. Information from our Pest Management Guide on Soybean Aphids in summary including info on thresholds and sampling are as follows (VCE Field Crops PMG, Publication 456-016):

  1. Number of aphids per soybean plant

The current economic threshold for aphids is an average of 250 aphids per plant, on two consecutive field visits spaced about 5-7 days apart. This is because aphid populations can “crash” quickly due to heavy pressure by natural enemies like lady beetles, parasitic wasps, and fungal diseases. When scouting, choose a “Z” or “W” shaped pattern to cover the entire field and sample at least 20 to 30 plants per field by examining the entire plant, including stems and upper and lower leaf surfaces. Use the aphid/plant average for determining the need for treatment.

  • The soybean growth stage

The threshold of 250 aphids per plant applies to soybeans through the R5 growth stage (3 mm long seed in the pod at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem), after which time plants can tolerate 1,000+ aphids with no threat to yield. If an insecticide is applied for aphids, pyrethroids (e.g. bifenthrin, Warrior II, Mustang Max, etc.) can be effective for management, but choosing a more selective insecticide can preserve natural enemy populations and limit future flare ups of aphids or other pests.

More information on soybean aphids can be found from Purdue University here: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/entm/extension/field-crops-ipm/soybean/soybean-aphids.html as well as a recent article published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln here: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2023/soybean-aphid-scouting-and-management/.

See the Virginia Tech pest management guide for a full list of labeled insecticides for soybean aphids. Please feel free to reach out to Robbie Longest (robbiel7@vt.edu) or Tim Bryant (btim2@vt.edu) with any additional questions.

Tissue Testing Soybeans

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Carrie Ortel, Extension Soybean Agronomist, Virginia Tech Tidewater AREC

Mark Reiter, Soils and Nutrient Management Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech Eastern Shore AREC

Joseph Haymaker, Postdoctoral Associate, Virginia Tech Eastern Shore AREC

Many of the full-season soybean fields in Virginia are beginning to flower, which is a great time to start tissue testing if there is a concern for crop nutrition. Tissue testing is an effective way to monitor crop nutrition when done correctly. To get reliable results, choose the correct, uppermost fully expanded soybean leaf during optimal conditions and carefully interpret the results. Tissue testing may begin as early as V4 but is most reliable during flowering and can continue through pod filling.

Step 1: Plan Your Sampling During Good Field Conditions

Time It Right – Field Conditions Matter

Field conditions at sampling time greatly affect the accuracy of tissue tests. Aim to collect samples when plants are actively transpiring, which usually means:

  • Adequate soil moisture (not drought or waterlogged).
  • Moderate temperatures and healthy plant function.

Avoid sampling during:

  • Drought, which can limit nutrient uptake even when nutrients are present in the soil.
  • Saturated soils, which can temporarily inhibit root function.
  • Shortly after foliar nutrient applications—wait at least a week and ensure a rain event has occurred to allow nutrients to be absorbed and leaf surfaces to clear.

Address In-Field Variability

Soybean nutrient levels can vary within a field due to differences in soil texture, drainage, or previous management practices. For meaningful results:

  • Divide fields into management zones based on known variability.
  • Take one composite sample per zone, collecting at least 18 trifoliolate leaves randomly throughout that area (Ortel et al., 2023).

This helps identify localized deficiencies and supports more precise nutrient management.

Step 2: Collect Your Leaf Sample

Choose the Right Plant Part

To get consistent and accurate results, it’s critical to sample the correct, uppermost fully expanded trifoliate leaf, as nutrient concentrations differ between leaves. The uppermost fully expanded trifoliate leaf is typically located on the second, third, or fourth node from the top of the plant (Figure 1, shown below).

Figure 1. Soybean plant at the full flower (R2) growth stage. The uppermost fully developed leaf is shown as the leaf on the third node from the top of this plant.

  • Look for the highest leaf that is dark green, full-sized, and has a coarse texture.
  • Avoid leaves with a velvety feel or are lighter in color than others—these are still developing and can falsely indicate nutrient levels.

Check with your testing lab for specific guidelines. Some labs also recommend sampling the whole plant during vegetative stages or including/excluding the petiole (the stalk attaching the leaf to the stem). Be sure your sampling method agrees with the lab’s interpretation standards.

Collect the Sample Properly

Once you identify the correct leaf, follow these best practices:

  • Collect 18–25 leaves per sample for a good composite.
  • Take samples across a consistent management zone (based on yield history, soil type, or other field characteristics).
  • Place leaves in a paper bag (not plastic) to allow drying and prevent mold.
  • Note the growth stage of the soybean crop.

If your lab uses critical nutrient thresholds without the petiole (e.g., Virginia Tech), remove the petiole before bagging.

Step 3: Interpret Results with Context

Getting accurate lab results is only half the process—understanding them correctly is essential.

  • Use growth-stage-specific critical concentrations when available, such as potassium in soybean (Slaton et al., 2021). These values indicate the threshold below which yield may be affected.
  • If no critical values are available, use sufficiency ranges cautiously—they are less precise and based on broader surveys instead of replicated research.

Also, consider nutrient mobility:

  • Mobile nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) can move within the plant and are often relocated from leaves to developing seeds and pods (Bender et al., 2015). Lower concentrations in leaves during reproductive stages may not signal a deficiency.
  • Immobile nutrients like calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and most micronutrients remain in their original locations and offer more stable indicators.

Although some nutrient deficiencies may not be visually apparent (hidden hunger), only take action with a corrective application of fertilizer if a deficiency occurs. Prophylactic foliar fertilizer applications have not been shown to increase yields (Matcham et al., 2021). When a nutrient deficiency does occur, a corrective application of granular fertilizer should be used to correct macronutrients, while a foliar fertilizer may be used to correct micronutrients.

Take Home Points

  1. Collect a composite sample of at least 18 of the uppermost fully expanded soybean trifoliate leaves from each management zone.
  2. Only collect tissue samples during favorable field conditions and adequate soil moisture.
  3. Consider the plant part collected (petiole included or excluded), growth stage, and nutrient mobility with interpreting results.

For more information please contact Carrie Ortel, Extension Soybean Agronomist, at carrieo@vt.edu.

References

  1. Bender, R. R., Haegele, J. W., & Below, F. E. (2015). Nutrient uptake, partitioning, and remobilization in modern soybean varieties. Agronomy Journal, 107(2), 563–573. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj14.0435
  2. Matcham, E. G., Vann, R. A., Lindsey, L. E., Gaska, J. M., Lilley, D. T., Ross, W. J., Wright, D. L., Knott, C., Lee, C. D., Moseley, D., Singh, M., Naeve, S., Irby, J. T., Wiebold, W., Kandel, H., Lofton, J., Inman, M., Kleinjan, J., Holshouser, D. L., & Conley, S. P. (2021). Foliar fertilizers rarely increase yield in United States soybean. Agronomy Journal, 113(6), 5246–5253. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20889
  3. Ortel, C. C., Roberts, T. L., Hoegenauer, K. A., Poncet, A. M., Slaton, N. A., & Ross, W. J. (2023). Mapping variability of soybean leaf potassium concentrations to develop a sampling protocol. Agrosystems, Geosciences and Environment, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20439
  4. Slaton, N. A., Drescher, G. L., Parvej, R., & Roberts, T. L. (2021). Dynamic critical potassium concentrations in soybean leaves and petioles for monitoring potassium nutrition. Agronomy Journal, 113(6), 5472–5482. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20819

Asiatic garden beetle update for June 18, 2025

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The entomology program at the Tidewater AREC has continued to monitor Asiatic garden beetle adults in our black light trap. The population peak in early June 2025 (see Figure) is very similar to what we saw in early June of 2024. Much of our cotton now has enough growth on it that some defoliation can be tolerated–but similar to thrips, I would recommend keeping an eye on anything that has not reached 4-5 true leaves.