The dang pests are taking over the world.

[bird dog]

If ain't one thing its another.

 

[Mrcopier]

Hmm interesting

 

[Lucky]

Like the army worms we have here?

 

[Texas G@l]

Like the army worms we have here?

Except there's no pesticide to combat the pasture mealy bug at this time.

 

[Brute 23]

We have them here. They just had a big talk on them.

Guess how they are spread.... hay and hay equipment...

especially wrap jk jk

All seriousness this is what happens when humans try to tilt the scales away from nature. She will fight back. They thrive and target a lot of the improved, monocultures. Those margins are getting thinner and thinner on the high input programs.

 

[wbvs58]

We have pasture dieback here which they think is caused by a mealy bug. Not a lot you can do about it other than plant a non susceptible species.

Ken

 

[Mark Reynolds]

We have them here. They just had a big talk on them.

Guess how they are spread.... hay and hay equipment...

especially wrap jk jk

All seriousness this is what happens when humans try to tilt the scales away from nature. She will fight back. They thrive and target a lot of the improved, monocultures. Those margins are getting thinner and thinner on the high input programs.

About nature fighting back..... Nature often has the means to keep pests in a 'dynamic' balance, but balance never-the-less. What we inadvertently do much of the time is that when we see a pest, we often don't think about how much of a pest it really is. (It's often 'in balance' at that point. In our effort to eradicate these pests (that ARE in balance) we end up killing their natural enemies as well. The pest is adapted to respond quickly to pressure and pressure removal, their 'predators', well, not as much or as fast. When we kill the pest, we inadvertently kill their predators, which do you think will bounce back fastest? and consider there are no other pests for the pest.

And we thought pests were 'bad' before their checks and balances were addressed....

 

[Lucky]

About nature fighting back..... Nature often has the means to keep pests in a 'dynamic' balance, but balance never-the-less. What we inadvertently do much of the time is that when we see a pest, we often don't think about how much of a pest it really is. (It's often 'in balance' at that point. In our effort to eradicate these pests (that ARE in balance) we end up killing their natural enemies as well. The pest is adapted to respond quickly to pressure and pressure removal, their 'predators', well, not as much or as fast. When we kill the pest, we inadvertently kill their predators, which do you think will bounce back fastest? and consider there are no other pests for the pest.

And we thought pests were 'bad' before their checks and balances were addressed....

Pretty good section on this subject in the Texas Private Applicators study book. It's something we don't always think about.

 

[Brute 23]

About nature fighting back..... Nature often has the means to keep pests in a 'dynamic' balance, but balance never-the-less. What we inadvertently do much of the time is that when we see a pest, we often don't think about how much of a pest it really is. (It's often 'in balance' at that point. In our effort to eradicate these pests (that ARE in balance) we end up killing their natural enemies as well. The pest is adapted to respond quickly to pressure and pressure removal, their 'predators', well, not as much or as fast. When we kill the pest, we inadvertently kill their predators, which do you think will bounce back fastest? and consider there are no other pests for the pest.

And we thought pests were 'bad' before their checks and balances were addressed....

At our local meeting you should have heard or ag extension agent want to throw chemicals at them or even plow them under. We wonder if he actually believes that stuff or says it so no one will call him.

 

[cfpinz]

Let me guess, it's from China........

 

[RDFF]

I'm one of the regenerative farming cooperators in Jonathan Lundgren's "1000 Farms Initiative"...

Jonathan Lundgren’s “For Every Pest, There Are 1,700 Predators” Insight​

Jonathan Lundgren, a South Dakota-based agroecologist and former USDA researcher, is known for emphasizing the vast biodiversity of insects and the critical role of beneficial species in agriculture. His well‑known statement — “For every pest there are 1,700 beneficial or neutral insects” — reflects decades of research showing that the majority of insects are not harmful to crops Green Cover+1.

Why the Ratio Matters​

Lundgren’s work, including the South Dakota Corn Insect Survey, found that in untreated corn fields, each acre could host 147,000 predator insects such as lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid flies, spiders, and predatory beetles www.dtnpf.com. Of the 107 insect species found in corn canopies, only about 13% were known herbivore pests, and these rarely reached economic thresholds due to the abundance of natural predators www.dtnpf.com.

Roles of Beneficial Insects​

These “friendlies” provide multiple services:

• Predation on pests — e.g., lady beetles and lacewings eat aphids; carabid beetles and spiders target rootworm larvae Green Cover+1.
• Pollination — many beneficial insects pollinate crops, contributing to yields of fruits, vegetables, and even major staples like soybeans Green Cover.
• Weed seed predation — some predators consume weed seeds, reducing competition for crops www.dtnpf.com.
• Ecosystem engineering — insects like dung beetles recycle nutrients and improve soil health Land Stewardship Project.

Implications for Farming​

Lundgren argues that pest management should not come at the expense of beneficial insects. Practices that support biodiversity — such as:

• Cover crops to provide habitat and food
• Insectary strips and companion planting
• Reduced tillage and pesticide use
• Diverse crop rotations Green Cover+1

— can maintain or boost predator populations, making farms more resilient and less reliant on chemical controls.

Biodiversity Loss​

Lundgren warns that industrialized, monocultural farming is driving insect declines, with some regions losing up to 4% of insect populations annually Land Stewardship Project+1. This loss reduces the “natural pest control army” and threatens agricultural productivity.

In short: Lundgren’s ratio underscores that healthy farms are built on insect diversity, not just pest control. By fostering beneficial insects, farmers can save billions in production costs, improve yields, and support ecosystem resilience Green Cover+2.

 

[Texas G@l]

We have pasture dieback here which they think is caused by a mealy bug. Not a lot you can do about it other than plant a non susceptible species.

Ken

The last few years we’ve been letting the Bermuda grass “fade” out….. no fertilizer and little to no herbicide. As it thins out, we are planting native/adapted grasses. We had done it years ago!!!