Mid-South soybean producers are concerned about the effects of heat, dry weather and insects on their crops, especially as enter the critical flowering stage.

Mississippi Extension entomologist Angus Catchot says armyworms have been attacking soybeans in recent weeks. These pests can quickly defoliate plants, and often move from grasses to soybean plants when glyphosate is applied.

Catchot also reports that bean leaf beetles have been observed at threshold in flowering soybean fields.

Mississippi Extension soybean specialist Trey Koger says pollen viability can be significantly reduced when heat indexes surpass 100 degrees. Timely irrigation may help soybeans for retaining more pods, but likely will have little benefit for improving pod viability, he says.

For further information, go to: Mississippi Crop Situation.