An annual survey consistently finds slugs among the top pests in Delaware. Farmers don’t have good thresholds for treatment and pressure is unpredictable. Slugs prefer cool, wet weather, and no-till fields with high residue and/or cover crops, but often by the time farmers realize they have a problem, emerging soybeans are severely damaged. Anecdotes suggest that slugs may favor brassica cover crops, and other research suggests delaying cover crop termination can help manage slugs. This multi-year study generates data about how adjustments to cover crop practices, like species choice and termination timing, may help manage slug populations over time.Key Benefactors: farmers, agronomists, Extension agents
Results will be interpreted as risk or non-risk of various cover crop species and delivered to farmers.
The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.