Title of Success Story

Soybean Aphid Field Guide, 2nd Edition: increasing access to pest management information through an Extension and Outreach publication

Public Value (now or future)
(Impact:  Who benefits beyond participants and how?  What conditions changed?)

The potential exists for readers (farmers and agronomists) to manage aphids more effectively, leading to increased profitability; and for decreased risk of human and environmental exposure due to unnecessary insecticide applications.

RELEVANCE
(Why is it important to address this issue with education?  What are the desired changes?)

Since soybean aphid is our most economically important soybean pest, a single publication with management recommendations would be useful. This book is designed to be taken into the field as a primary resource for soybean aphid management in Iowa.

RESPONSE
(Outputs: activities, numbers reached, publications, products)

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Soybean Association worked collaboratively to update the Soybean Aphid Field Guide, producing a 52 page, compact (3 in by 6 in), laminated publication.

This publication provides basic biology and life cycle information, as well as research-based recommendations for soybean aphid. The second edition of the field guide was recently released (July 2011) after every section was expanded. In 2011, approximately 10,000 copies were made and are available to farmers, agricultural professionals and members of industry throughout Iowa and elsewhere.

RESULTS (Outcomes:  specific changes that occurred in Learning, Actions, Conditions; how outcomes were measured)

Since the first edition, aphid-resistant soybeans have been shown to be an effective management tool and are commercially available. We encourage growers to implement this new tactic, as well as other IPM (integrated pest management) concepts, to reduce overall aphid population growth in the summer.
 
By making this field guide available, which notes the recent advances in the development of aphid-resistant soybeans, we have the potential to reduce the unnecessary use of insecticides.
 
The economic and environmental impact of such a reduction in insecticide use could be significant across the 9.2 million acres of soybeans grown within Iowa.

Desired Changes
Learning
Actions
Conditions

Learning can lead to improved actions, potentially resulting in improved conditions (environmental and human benefits).

Extension Lead(s)
(name, position, counties served, contact information)

Erin Hodgson, Extension Entomologist and Assistant Professor; Matt O’Neal, Research Entomologist and Associate Professor; Adam Sisson, IPM Specialist

Your Position

­­­­­_____Field                                        ___X__Campus                         _____Both

POW # and Team

 ­­­­­_X___100 Corn and Soybean Production and Protection
­­­­­_____ 110 Dairy
­­­­­_____ 120 Farm and Business Management
­­­­­_____ 130 Horticulture: Commercial and Consumer
­­­­­_____ 140 Iowa Beef Center
­­­­­_____ 150 Iowa Pork Industry Center
­­­­­_____ 160 Natural Resources and Stewardship

ANR Priority (select all that apply)

­­­­­_____Global Food Security and Hunger
­­­­­_____Regional Food Systems
­­­­­__X__Natural Resources & Environmental Stewardship
­­­­­_____Food Safety
­­­­­_____Sustainable Energy – Biofuels & Biobased Products
­­­­­_____Climate Change
­­­­­_____Other

Knowledge Areas: (USDA categories)

Continuing Story

__X__ No                _____  Yes (If continuing, what story?)

Major Partners or Collaborators

Iowa Soybean Association, Pioneer Hi-Bred

Where story took place
(Region, campus, multi-regional)

Campus and local

Fiscal Year

2011

Multi-state or Integrated (Ext + Research)

Funding Source

Keywords