Integrated pest management : article
Discover how improper fertilizing and watering can worsen lawn diseases like brown patch and large patch, and learn effective prevention strategies.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Asian lady beetles, or ladybugs, may seem like a nuisance as they seek warmth in your home, but they can be helpful as predators on other insects.
Asian needle ants, an invasive species, may reach Missouri in 2025. Stay alert to protect local environments and health.
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Atrazine, presently used on more than 85 percent of the corn acres in Missouri, is considered one of the most effective and least costly herbicides in use. University of Missouri Extension is helping farmers and communities manage atrazine runoff so the herbicide remains available.
Farmers faced challenges during the 2023 drought as soybean diseases like sudden death syndrome, red crown rot, and charcoal rot exhibited similar symptoms.
Soybean farmers in Missouri should scout for stink bugs in 2025 to prevent yield losses and maintain seed quality.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri residents are urged to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (SLF), an insect that could have devastating effects on the state’s $4.2 billion wine and grape industry. SLF can damage fruits including grapes, as well as ornamentals and urban landscapes.
Using cereal rye as a cover crop can help reduce early-season waterhemp in soybeans without lowering yield.
Emerald ash borer threatens ash trees across Missouri. Learn signs of infestation, treatment options, and ways to protect valuable trees.
Manage pests like cucumber beetles and squash bugs with trap cropping, hand removal, and selective insecticides to protect your cucurbit crops.
JACKSON, Mo. – Both gardeners and their plants need extra care when it’s hot outside, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg.She reminds gardeners to take care of themselves first so they can tend to gardens and flowerbeds.
Dung beetles enhance pastures by recycling nutrients, improving soil, and controlling pests.
Early alfalfa weevil activity signals growers to scout fields and take action if infestations exceed economic thresholds.
Explore cost analysis of owning drones for agricultural spraying to determine if buying or hiring is more cost-effective.
Expect high Japanese beetle activity this year, damaging corn, soybeans, and over 400 garden plants. Control may require multiple treatments.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish reports confirmation of red crown rot, a yield-robbing soybean disease, in Marion County in northeastern Missouri.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management reports the capture of its first Japanese beetles of the season, says MU Extension crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida.
COLUMBIA, Mo.
Researchers confirmed glufosinate-resistant Palmer amaranth in Missouri, raising concerns for weed control and crop yields.
The University of Missouri’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen its reach to diverse clientele with sustainable pest management practices.
Japanese beetles are rising in corn and soybean fields, causing defoliation and silk clipping. Scouting and timely control are key.
Kochia, a highly competitive weed that can reduce yields by as much as 70%, has been found in northwestern Missouri soybean fields. Kochia is not new to Missouri, but this may be the first report of kochia showing up in cropland.
Watch for corn leafhoppers in 2025, as they spread corn stunt disease and reduce yields.
Mizzou Weed Science's research shows the Seed Terminator attachment pulverizes 93.2% of waterhemp seeds entering the combine, aiding in weed control.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new University of Missouri Extension publication offers corn growers help in identifying Missouri’s newest corn pest, the corn leafhopper.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri farmers have a new tool to alert them to insects, crop diseases and other important information from University of Missouri Extension specialists.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Pest Monitoring Network offers free text alerts to notify farmers when insects are active in specific locations, says MU Extension entomologist Kevin Rice.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is offering online town hall meetings led by agronomy, livestock and horticulture specialists.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturists are asking the public to report unsolicited seed deliveries.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management has issued its first pest alerts of the growing season.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, wants to make Missouri a safer place that allows Missouri’s agricultural economy to continue to grow.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic now offers a digital diagnosis service to quickly identify plant health problems.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri researchers, under the direction of MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley, are finding that pigweed seed is popping up in birdseed in alarming numbers.
“It’s pretty shocking,” graduate student Eric Oseland told those attending the annual Integrated Pest…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Soybean growers can’t rely on seed treatments alone to combat soybean cyst nematode (SCN), says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is still time to manage resistance to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides in corn this year, but the window is shortening, according to University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Producers should prepare for more complexity in herbicide requirements and registrations in 2023 and beyond, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley.
MU Extension state crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida has confirmed the presence of a new soybean pest in Missouri, soybean tentiform leafminer. Valmorbida encourages farmers to scout soybean fields for the pest.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Off-target herbicides may be invisible, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.Off-target herbicides damage crops, ornamentals and other vegetation in nearby fields when droplets move off of the soil or intended plants and onto nontarget plants, says University of Missouri Plant…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pest control in the garden might conjure images of a season-long battle with bugs, weeds and diseases. But sometimes four-legged “friends” such as deer, rabbits and squirrels can inflict far more damage, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ben Franklin’s adage of “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could be gardeners’ theme song for November.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are easily confused.They are like ugly distant cousins at a family reunion. They look alike until you see them side by side. Their differences become apparent upon closer examination.Palmer amaranth is the bigger bully of the two. It takes over fields,…
Perilla mint is a toxic plant that can harm livestock. To control it, apply broadleaf herbicides between April and June before seed set
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Leaf curl is a troublesome disease of peach, nectarine and related plants. "Leaf curl is worse when the weather is cool and wet," said Lala Kumar, University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. Leaves infected with the fungus Taphrina deformans become thickened,…
Prune oak trees in winter to reduce oak wilt risk and protect healthy trees from infection and beetle spread.
Red crown rot confirmed in Maries and Phelps counties; scout fields for irregular patches, especially in wet areas.
Scout crops regularly to detect pests early, protect yields, and make informed pest management decisions.
Missouri growers urged to scout corn for invasive corn leafhopper, a tiny yellow pest that spreads corn stunt disease, causing deformed grain and yield loss.
Good scouting is the best way to identify tar spot in corn, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Tar spot was confirmed in June of 2023 and 2024 in Missouri, which is earlier than in previous years, when the disease showed up in August or September. This earlier…
Sign up for free 2025 crop pest alerts to protect fields and gardens from Japanese beetles, armyworms, stink bugs, and more.
Note: Revised to correct spelling of “sclerotinia.”
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Wayne Flanary says about 160 acres of soybean in northwestern Missouri show symptoms of sclerotinia stem rot.
Spotted lanternfly may arrive in Missouri this summer, threatening grapes and vineyards—early detection and control are vital to protect industry.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Raise the temperature and run fans in grain bins now to avoid condensation and mold.Keep your stored grain in condition by increasing the temperature inside the bin to the outside monthly average temperature in May, says University of Missouri Extension entomologist Wayne Bailey.
Brown marmorated stink bugs seek to overwinter indoors; prevent entry with caulking, screens, and vacuuming to reduce nuisance infestation.
Tar spot, a fungal disease affecting corn, has been confirmed in 19 Missouri counties in 2024. Early detection and fungicide application are crucial.
Knotroot foxtail and fountain grass are spreading in Missouri pastures, reducing forage quality and proving difficult to control.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– In the war between waterhemp and producers, waterhemp is winning, says a University of Missouri Extension state weed scientist.
Weed electrocution offers a promising solution to herbicide-resistant weeds. Research shows it effectively controls waterhemp and reduces seed viability.