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Keep rising soybean aphid populations in check
Dan Lau, location manager at LiquiGrow Clear Lake
Soybean aphids have infested fields steadily year after year in the Clear Lake, Iowa, area. That pressure made them the No. 1 pest for Dan Lau, location manager at Liqui-Grow Clear Lake. As his team worked to control aphids, they also uncovered damage from other insects, including grasshoppers, bean leaf beetles and Japanese beetles.
“The pests started overwintering here and chewing on our beans,” Lau said. “I don’t know if that threshold was ever met to treat for these specific insects, but with all of them hurting the beans and the leaves, they made a big difference. We treated soybean fields just to clean the slate.”
Liqui-Grow is an independent, family-owned business in a highly competitive market. To set itself apart, Lau said the Clear Lake location prides itself on timely custom applications in the busy springtime. With a new facility, Lau and his team also have improved efficiency when mixing and filling hot loads for growers who make their own applications.
“In addition to that, we have good, honest people, and that’s what I think a lot of the customer base and farmers are looking for: an honest partner to work with,” Lau said. “I have a good team here.”
Two modes of action make a difference
Even with the other insects in the fields, controlling soybean aphids remained the top priority. As populations increased, the team initially used pyrethroids for control. However, they quickly realized the aphids were resistant to that chemistry when they scouted a week later.
“It was a disaster,” Lau said. “We had to respray. Now we’re using Ridgeback insecticide, and the two modes of action are very important to our growers.”
Insects continually adapt to insecticides, weather patterns and other pressures, making resistance a constant concern for Lau and the growers he and his team serve. Using two modes of action instead of a straight pyrethroid helps prevent and slow resistance, Lau said.
“Two modes of action give you a little bit more strength in your application. With the pyrethroid resistance we’ve experienced with aphids, having two good active ingredients in Ridgeback insecticide gives us peace of mind,” he said. “Ridgeback has done an excellent job. It has good residual and mixes well with other products. It’s done its job, and it’s done it well.”
Listen to Lau share his experience with Ridgeback® insecticide.
Why Ridgeback® insecticide matters for today’s soybean growers | real results from the field
Reliable insect control is essential, especially as resistance and unpredictable pressure continue to challenge soybean growers. In this video, an independent, family-owned retailer shares why he chose this industry, how pest challenges have evolved, and why solutions like Ridgeback® with two modes of action are making a real impact in the field.
Why Ridgeback® insecticide matters for today’s soybean growers | real results from the field
Reliable insect control is essential, especially as resistance and unpredictable pressure continue to challenge soybean growers. In this video, an independent, family-owned retailer shares why he chose this industry, how pest challenges have evolved, and why solutions like Ridgeback® with two modes of action are making a real impact in the field.
Better insect control for greater yield potential
For new product information, Lau said he leans heavily on representatives from agricultural companies like Corteva Agriscience. He also relies on Liqui-Grow lead agronomists, who manage several research farms where extensive product testing takes place. Controlling aphids protects foliage from feeding damage, which in turn preserves crop health. A healthier crop can translate to greater yield potential for growers.
“I think we can honestly see that in the last decade, as we've moved to these newer insecticides with multiple modes of action and better residual control, we’ve seen some higher yields coming in more consistently than we used to,” Lau said. “Anytime you can have more consistency, that is great for the farm.”
Ridgeback is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
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