# NEWARK, Del. - A 1982 University of Delaware survey has shown that the Dectes stem borer is present in many Delaware soybean fields. The insect, which formerly infested only weeds, Four ways to belter hoy Gehl haying machines are the next best thing to sunshine. They help you make better hay even when the weather is going against you. No-plug mowing. Our new disc mowers and disc mower conditioner tackle heavy standing grass or wet, down and tangled material with out plugging. Heavy duty discs rotate at 3000 rpm to cut through Just about any crop. Leaf-saver mower conditioners feature all gear main drive and gentle-action condition ing rolls. Even when conditions are marginal you'll get fast-drying windrows that retain important nutrients. Gentle raking. Our new full line of finger wheel rakes gently gathers swaths up to 22-faet wide. They give you light and airy windrows while saving leaves and nutrition. Exclusive Total Density Control (TDC). Only Gehl’s new round balers with the unique “alr-draulic” system give you Total Density Control. Lets you adjust bale density to suit the crop, moisture and field conditions. You get bales that stay round and resist weather. Choose from two models, the All Haymaking Equipment has interest free waiver until Sept. 1.1983. Skid-Steer Loaders and Mix-Alls have interest free waiver until July 1.1983. PEOPLE’S SALES & SERVICE Oakland Mills, PA 717-463-2735 A. L. HERR & BRO. Quarryville, PA 717-786-3521 S. JOHNSON HURFF Pole Tavern Monroeville, NJ 609-358-2565 or 609-769-2565 MMHJNW.SCIffiEFFmt Main Rd.. Pitman, PA IMPIUWH «*«-. HH>. 717-648-1120 Richland,-PA 717-866-7518 Dectes stem borer affecting Del. soybeans appears to be evolving so that it also overwinters in soybeans. When it does this it can seriously reduce yields. Last summer university scien tists found adult Dectes borers GEHL FARM EQUIPMENT Waiver terms on all Gehl Equipment Example: STOUFFER BROS. INC. Chambersburg, PA 717-263-8424 WERTZ GARAGE Lineboro, MD 301-374-2672 REED BROTHERS EQUIPMENT Petticoat Bridge Rd. Columbus, NJ 609-298-3441 INCH EQUIPMENT CO. 516 Mam Street _ , .. Honesdale, PA 717-253-3440 717-758-3021 1850 for over 2000 lb. bales or the 1450 for over 1000 lb. bales. And you can easily move these big bales with Gehl bale handlers. Beat the weather and make better hay. See your Gehl dealer. Gehl Compai West Bend, Wisconsin 53095 ARNETTS GARAGE MILLER EQUIPMENT CO. Rt. 9 Box 125 RDI Hagerstown, MD Bechtelsville, PA 301-733-0515 215-845-2911 CLAIR J. MYERS Lake Road R 1 Thomasville, PA 717-259-0453 UMBERGER’S MILL Rt. 4 Lebanon, PA (Fontana) 717-867-5161 PAUL W. HISTAND CO., INC. 697 N. Main St. Doyiestown, PA 215-248-9041 on common ragweed plants in 18 out of 30 fields monitored weekly from July 27 to August 29 in Kent and Sussex counties. Adults also were found on ragweed growing in soybeans in parts of New Castle BINKLEY S HURST DUOS. 133 Rothsville Station Road Lititz, PA 717-626-4705 PETERMAN FARM EQUIPMENT, INC. 225 York Rd. Carlisle, PA 717-249-5338 WEB SNYDER, INC. RD *1 Watsontown, PA 717-538-5555 County and nearby states. The survey was conducted by a team of research and extension personnel with the aid of a $4,500 grant from the Delaware Soybean Check-off Board. Purpose of the study was to determine how widely distributed the Dectes stem borer is in Delaware and how much soybean damage its larvae cause. Hie survey was proposed after the 1981 discovery of heavy Dectes infestations in soybeans on three farms in the Lewes-Milton area. Besides monitoring adult populations during the growing season, the scientists also in spected soybean stubble after harvest last fall for presence of overwintering larvae. In most cases, Dectes adults were found on ragweed growing among soybean plants. Ragweed, along with cocklebur, is one of the insect’s major weed hosts. At some sites, adult borers also were found on soybeans. On at least two sites, borers had infested an entire field, even though no ragweed was present. Charles Mason, researcher with the University of Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station who took part in the search, and other entomologists are concerned over the widespread presence of Dectes in Delaware soybean fields. “This little insect has caused severe damage on only seven or eight farms growing soybeans in the state so far, but it’s a real problem for the farmers who have it,” Mason says. “They’re pulling out their hair trying to control it.” Though it is a relatively new soybean pest in Delaware, Dectes has been a serious concern of North Carolina soybean producers for several years. To date, eight Delaware sites— all in Sussex County—have been found with Dectes-damaged soybeans. Of the varieties tested, POURED REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION • Circular Tanks • Retaining Wa • Gravity Fill St< • Receiver Pits • Slatted Floors • Basements an Building Foun /0&i fn ■ ‘ M SIZES & LAYOUTS TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS We are qualified to handle any poured concrete job you may need. We use a practical aluminum forming system to create concrete structures of maximum strength and durability. For a highly satisfactory job at an affordable price, get in touch with us. POURED FOR DURABILITY Groffdole /IT poured wallsMi BRICK CHURCH RD. LEOLA, PA. 17540 FOR SALES & LAYOUT CONTACT: GROFFDALE POURED WALLS (717) 656-2016 JAKE KING (717) 656-7566 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, Aprils, 1983—PIS Essex and Ware appear to be more susceptible than others. North Carolina entomologists say there is evidence that larval feeding within plants causes about 10 percent yield loss. But most damage oc curs from lodging after borers hollow out stems as they tunnel toward the base of the plants where they overwinter. Depending on the weather, over half the in fested plants in a field may lodge before harvest, making it difficult to recover the beans. Insect-induced lodging is most severe in earlier planted beans, Mason says, especially in fields where soybeans were grown the previous year and where beans aren’t harvested promptly at maturity. “This insect appears to have transferred from weedy hosts to soybeans in some parts of the state,” the entomologist says. “Where it does reproduce in soybeans, populations are generally high enough to cause economic losses.” University extension en tomologist Mark Graustein shares Mason’s concern. At present no pesticides are labeled for Dectes control, and current cropping practices on the Delmarva peninsula appear to favor the insect’s shift to soybeans. “At this time we feel the only way to control the Dectes stem borer is to rotate out of soybeans if at all possible,” Graustein says. Preferably, growers should switch to com or some other nonhost crop, or try to grow soybeans on land which has been used for these other crops-especially fields which are free of common ragweed. He says damage from lodging is most likely to occur on no-till full-season soybeans growing where soybeans grew last year.