By Claire LaCanne, Anna Cates, and Nathan Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension researchers have started a small trial examining the predation rate of insect pests in differently managed row crop fields. We compared pest predation in row crop fields with cover crops to predation rates in fields without cover crops. Our preliminary results show that more predation took place in corn with cover crops and in soybeans without cover crops (Figure 1). Since corn and soybean fields looked so different, we can’t statistically detect any effect of cover crops at this point. However, we know that the amount of cover (whether crop residue or cover crop biomass) plays an important role in predator presence, and our results confirm this general principle. Cover was generally greater in corn fields with cover crops. Conversely, soybeans without cover crops had greater canopy cover because they were further along developmentally. Figure 1 . Predation results from the 2020 sampling dates. Higher p...
