TABLE OF CONTENTS (links are to the website of The Bulletin)

Gather Information from Multiple Sources
Links to weekly pest management and crop development newsletters published in 11 other north-central states are provided at the Bulletin Web site.

Information on Three New Agricultural Pests Enhances Web Tool for Farmers
Fruit tree leafroller, lilac borer, and western bean cutworm have been added to the Illinois State Water Survey's Web-based Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring Program. A degree-day calculator lets users track and project growth cycles of 30 pests and monitor growing degree-days for corn and cold weather crops.

Moth Captures Indicate That Some Pests of Concern Are Arriving in Illinois 
Some corn seedlings will be susceptible to injury by early-season insect pests relatively soon.

A Little Clarification About Practicing Safe S.E.X. in 2005
Reader feedback to an article in issue no. 1 of the Bulletin has generated clarifications on increasing application rates of soil insecticides and using products with different modes of action for controlling pests.

Scouting for Alfalfa Weevils
Those who haven't been out to their alfalfa fields should make the first scouting trip soon. As degree-day accumulations near 400, larval tip feeding may become severe. Economic thresholds and recommended insecticides are listed.

Soybean Aphids and Rust: Looking at the Glass Half Full
An entomologist at Michigan State University has compared important similarities between soybean rust and soybean aphid management.

Outlook for Soybean Rust in Illinois
There are many questions about what to expect and how to plan for managing soybean rust when it arrives in Illinois. What is known and what is not yet known are discussed.

Update on Management of Soybean Rust with Fungicides in Illinois
Fungicide applications are the primary management strategy for soybean rust. Current information relevant to Illinois is detailed.

Considerations for Controlling Existing Vegetation Before Planting
The amount of weed vegetation in no-till fields has generally become more dense and composed of less familiar species in recent years. Guidelines for controlling such vegetation before planting no-till corn or soybeans are outlined, together with control ratings for burndown herbicides.

Predicting Weed Emergence
Midwestern weed scientists have developed a factsheet to provide direction related to timing and duration of weed emergence.

Crop Conditions and Soybean Seeding Rates
Crop conditions for wheat and corn are noted, and the question of soybean seeding rates is detailed. Multiple studies into how many seeds are needed per acre to maximize yield indicate that the chance of getting yield increases as plant population moves above 100,000 plants per acre is small.

Regional Reports
Reports are provided this issue for northern, southern, and west-central Illinois.