Skip to main content

Syngenta US News

Worm pressures prompt Syngenta to call for diligent soybean scouting

  • Corn earworm and armyworm pose threat to Southern soybeans
  • Late-planted beans more vulnerable to foliar feeders
  • Syngenta offers Besiege® insecticide to prevent yield losses
GREENSBORO, N.C., USA – With recent entomologist reports of corn earworm and armyworm sightings in Southern states, Syngenta encourages growers to scout thoroughly.

Gus Lorenz, extension entomologist at the University of Arkansas Extension, warns growers to be on the lookout for corn earworm and other defoliating pests, such as fall armyworm and yellowstripes.

“We’re seeing them in those beans that are starting to bloom and set pods, and there are a lot of fields in that R1 to R2 stage right now,” Lorenz tells the Syngenta Pest Patrol Hotline, which gives growers access to alerts about pests in their area. “If you see some spots out in your field that look odd…it very likely could be this complex of worms.”

Small, late-planted beans are particularly vulnerable to foliar damage. Clemson University Extension advises growers to scout weekly for corn earworm from the last week of July through August. Defoliation should not exceed 15 percent after mid-bloom or 30 percent before mid-bloom.

With soybean commodity prices constantly fluctuating, it is important to be conservative with scouting efforts. Lorenz recommends dropping the scouting threshold for worms to somewhere between seven and nine worms. In July, growers in many fields were already finding as many as 12 worms per 25 sweeps.

“It’s also crucial that growers choose the right insecticide for the job,” says John Koenig, insecticide technical product lead at Syngenta. “The current commodity value of soybeans is too high to slip up with the wrong product.”

For protection against corn earworm, armyworm and other foliar-feeding pests, Syngenta offers Besiege insecticide. Besiege provides excellent knockdown and long-lasting residual of the most difficult-to-control lepidopteran pests. Its convenient premix formula contains two active ingredients with complementary modes of action for dual protection against key insects.

Check out corn earworm, armyworm and other #InsectOutlaws on the Besiege webpage. Follow along for scouting information and for updates on the Most Wanted pests of 2016. For all of the latest soybean news, visit SyngentaUS.com/soybeans or contact Syngenta at 866-796-4368. Tap into agronomic insights on KnowMoreGrowMore.com to help maximize your fields’ potential.

About Syngenta
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.Syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

Media Contacts:
Steven Oklesh
336-632-6000
steven.oklesh@syngenta.com

Jenna Gilgore
919-870-5718
jgilgore@gscommunications.com

Web Resources:
Besiege insecticide
Tools to Grow More Soybeans
Syngenta US
Syngenta Newsroom
Know More, Grow More

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract there for.

©2016 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Besiege is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Besiege is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift onto blooming plants while bees are foraging adjacent to the treatment area. Besiege® and the Syngenta logo are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Twitter® is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc.

Syngenta hereby disclaims any liability for Third Party websites referenced herein.