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Crop Development
Wheat Growth Stages All grain plants follow the same general pattern of development, although the specific time interval between stages, the number of leaves and nodes on the main stem and the
number of tillers will vary by variety, season, planting date and location. Further, the amount of growth for any variety is directly related to nutrient and moisture availability.
That said, however, the rate of growth development for any variety is directly related to temperature (accumulated heat units), except under extremely dry conditions.
Thus, by knowing the planting date for wheat, and by tracking weather data, one can predict growth development and plant stage. This helps growers make timely treatments to control weeds, topdress fertilizer, control diseases, and other management decisions.
The 2004 Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Management Calendar on pages 14-15 can assist growers to make management decisions by growth stage. The North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) can
help growers keep track of weather and growing degree days. On NDAWN’s Internet home page (http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu) click on the “applications” link. There,
you will find a number of applications for using NDAWN, including:
- Predicting Sclerotinia risk in canola
- Corn degree days
- Potato late blight severity
- Sugarbeet degree days, growth stages, cercospora
- Sunflower degree days
- Wheat degree days, growth stages, disease forecasting, midge forecasting
- Crop water use
- Insect degree days
- Heating/cooling degree days
Consult with an agronomist, certified crop adviser, or county extension agent/educator for more background on growing staging crops, or about how to use and understand the NDAWN information.
NDSU has a publication online, “Identifying Leaf Stages in Small Grains,” at www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/weeds/w564w.htm. The University of Minnesota publication “Growth and Development Guide for Spring Wheat” can be found online at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/DC2547.html
Corn Growth Stages This identification system divides plant development into vegetative (V) and reproductive (R) stages. The (V) stages are designated numerically as V1, V2, V3, etc. through V(n)
where (n) represents the number of leaves with visible collars. The first and last (V) stages are designated as VE (emergence) and VT (tasseling). The six reproductive stages are simply designated numerically.
Each leaf stage is defined according to the uppermost leaf whose leaf collar is visible. Loss of the lower leaves will begin about V6 due to increased stalk size and nodal root growth. To determine the
proper leaf stage after lower leaf loss, split the stalk lengthwise and inspect for internode elongation. The first node above the first elongated internode is generally the fifth leaf node. This fifth leaf node can
be used as a reference point for counting the top leaf collar.
Vegetative Stages
Stage Description
- VE Emergence
- V1 One leaf with collar visible
- V2 Two leaves with collars visible
- V(n) (n) leaves with collars visible
- VT Last branch of tassel is completely visible
Reproductive Stages
Stage Description
- R1 Silking - silks visible outside the husks
- R2 Blister - kernels are white and resemble a blister in shape
- R3 Milk - kernels are yellow on the outside with a milky inner fluid
- R4 Dough - milky inner fluid thickens to a pasty consistency
- R5 Dent - nearly all kernels are denting
- R6 Physiological maturity - the black abscission layer has formed
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Seed
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VE
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V2
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V4
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V8
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V12
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VT
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R1
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R5
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Sources: Iowa State University, Purdue
Soybean Growth Stages This identification system divides soybean plant development into vegetative (V) and reproductive (R
) stages. With the exception of the first two stages, the (V) stages are designated numerically as V1, V2, V3, etc. through V(n) where (n) represents the number for the last node stage of a specific
variety. The (n) will fluctuate with variety and environmental differences. The eight R stages are simply designated numerically.
The V stages following VC are numbered according to the uppermost fully developed leaf node. Start with the unifoliolate leaf node when counting the number of fully developed leaf nodes. A leaf
node is fully developed when the leaf above it has leaflets which are fully unrolled. That is, the leaflet edges are no longer touching.
Vegetative Stages
Stage Description
- VE Emergence
- VC Cotyledon
- V1 Unifoliolate and first trifoliolate leaves are fully developed
- V2 Unifoliolate and first two trifoliolate leaves are fully developed
- V3 Unifoliolate and first three trifoliolate leaves are fully developed
- V(n) Unifoliolate and (n) trifoliolate leaves are fully developed
Reproductive Stages
Stage Description
- R1 Open flower at any node on the main stem
- R2 Open flower at one of the two uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
- R3 Pod is 3/16 inch long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
- R4 Pod is 3/4 inch long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
- R5 Seed is 1/8 inch long in the pod at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
- R6 Pod containing a green seed that fills the pod cavity at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf
- R7 One normal pod on the main stem that has reached its mature pod color
- R8 95% of the pods have reached their mature pod color
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VE
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VC
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V2
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V4
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R2
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R5
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R7
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R8
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Sources: Iowa State University, Purdue
Diagnosing plant problems The following plant labs can help diagnose plant pests and problems. Contact the lab for instructions before submitting plant samples.
NDSU—Waldron Hall, Room 206, PO Box 5012, Fargo, ND, 58105, ph 701.231.7854, email: diaglab@ndsuext.nodak.edu , web site: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/diaglab . Fee-based services include insect, weed, disease identification and control recommendations, herbicide injury diagnosis,
and soybean cyst nematode screening.
UM - Plant Disease Clinic, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle. St. Paul, MN 55108-6030, 612.625.1275. Web site: http://www.plpa.agri.umn.edu/extension/plantdiseaseclinic.htm
Fee-based services include insect, plant, disease, virus ID, as well as seed quality testing.
SDSU— Oscar E. Olson Biochemistry Labs, SH 059, Box 2170. Brookings, SD 57007-1217, ph 605.688.6172, web site: http://anserv.sdstate.edu. . SDSU Plant Disease Clinic: http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/planthealth/PDClinic.html , ph 605.688.5157
Link to more private and public testing labs can be found online: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/diaglab/diaglab_chemlabs.htm
These labs (as well as professional crop consultants/certified crop advisers) can help determine key factors that affect crop productivity, such as:
Soil organic matter tests—Knowledge of the organic matter level will serve as a guide in selecting an effective herbicide and rate of application, as well as helping to assure crop safety. Testing once
every five years should be adequate.
Herbicide spray water analysis—High salt levels in spray water can reduce weed control in nearly all situations. Calcium, and to a lesser degree, magnesium, are antagonistic to 2,4-D and MCPA amine
, dicamba, and glyphosate.
Plant tissue analysis—This indicates the nutrient status of plants at the time of sampling, serving as a
monitoring tool for determining the adequacy of current fertilization practices. Plant tissue analysis will also detect unseen nutrient deficiencies and may confirm visual symptoms of deficiencies. Toxic
levels also may be detected Combined with soil test information, a plant analysis report can help a producer tailor fertilization practices to specific soil-plant needs.
SOYBEAN MATURITY 101 Soybeans respond to day length so the actual calendar date is highly influenced by latitude location.
Each variety therefore has a narrow range of north to south adaptation. Soybean yield and quality are affected if a season ending freeze occurs before a variety reaches its physiological maturity.
Dates of maturity are listed in variety performance tables and indicate when the plants in a variety are observed and estimated to be physiologically mature. Usually harvest will commence approximately
7 to 14 days after the soybeans are physiological mature.
Relative maturity ratings are also provided for many of the varieties entered in the trials at various locations. These ratings consist of a number for the maturity group designation such as: (000-early,
00- mid early, 0-mid or 1-late) and followed by a decimal and another number, ranging from .0 to .9, which indicates maturity rankings within each maturity group. Each 0.1 change in group rating
represents approximately 0.75 to 1 day later maturity.
For example, the variety Jim is indicated as 00.6, making it a medium maturing variety in the 00 group. Walsh would be a 0.0, making it one of the earliest varieties in the 0 group whereas Sargent
is a 0.8 making it one of the later varieties in the 0 group. Few if any group 1 soybeans are currently planted in North Dakota except in the extreme southeast part of the state.
Group maturity rankings of public varieties were developed after observing them for a number of years and sites. Relative maturity ratings for private varieties are usually provided by companies and
were developed in a similar manner.
– Duane Berglund, NDSU extension agronomist
Public soybean performance and maturity data online:
NDSU 2003 trials, Roundup-Ready and conventional -- www.ag.ndsu.nodak
.edu/aginfo/variety/soybean.htm
SDSU variety trials -- http://plantsci.sdstate.edu/varietytrials/vartrial.html
U of M variety trials -- www.maes.umn.edu/maespubs/vartrial/vt-cntnt.asp
Evaluating Hail Damage, Crop Recovery – These two crops will tiller (stool) and recover better from hail than wheat, especially prior to the
boot stage. Grower experience has demonstrated that barley hailed severely in the boot stage has recovered to produce 70-80% of normal yield. Crop hailed prior to boot stage should be left if
stems or green tissue remains. New growth should be evident within 3 days after hail. Yield potential will depend on rainfall and cool temperature in the next 30 days after hail damage. Grain quality will
likely be reduced.
– Wheat in growth stages prior to early boot (flag leaf is just out) will have regrowth from tillers if the
plants are not totally destroyed. After the head emerges, ability to regrow declines rapidly. The more advanced wheat is at the time of hail, the greater the yield loss. Prior to boot stage, it may be best to
leave the crop if stems remain. Depending on rainfall, fertility, soil moisture remaining and severity of damage, yields may vary from 20-70% of normal. Hail adjusters will adjust crops after boot stage
so a decision can be made on their analysis.
– Hail damage to winter wheat in bloom or milk stage can be adjusted. Losses are proportional to percentage stem breakage. If insured, use adjustment as basis of decision. Winter wheat makes
good hay if yield losses are such that harvest costs will not be repaid. Maturity will be delayed in hail damaged winter wheat.
– These crops will recover from hail if green material remains above the area of the first leaf. Buds along the stem will regrow following destruction of the growing point. Delay in maturity is a major
factor in final yield and quality, especially in dry beans. Flax will tolerate frost while dry beans will not. Lentils do not tolerate heat well and yield loss may occur if flowering occurs during hot weather.
Use of fungicide and micronutrients may help recovery. However, there is no economic data on this practice in N.D. In the corn belt, economic yields were obtained about 50% of the time when
treating soybeans.
– plantings in the seedling stage can have stands reduced to one-third of normal and produce acceptable yields. Plants hailed prior to flowering suffer yield decline because of loss of leaf area (the
crop will still produce 60-80% of normal yield if enough material is available for regrowth). Seed yield loss in canola is 25% of percent of leaf area lost. Plants injured in early flowering seldom die,
however, yield loss can be severe. Early maturing canola (B. campestris) that is similar to yellow mustard in maturity suffers increasing yield loss as flowering progresses. Plants that have been
flowering 7-14 days will have yield losses due to hail equal to percent of branches lost. If 70% of branches are lost, 60-70% of yield will also be lost.
– Corn will tolerate total defoliation and regrow if the growing point is intact. The growing point remains below ground 2-3 weeks after the plant emerges (4-leaf). If the growing point is not
damaged, corn will recover and perform better than replanted corn. Split the stalk down the center and inspect the growing point. If normal, it will appear white in color and firm in texture. Injured
growing points will appear brown or discolored 2-3 days following the hail. Complete loss of leaves early to corn when small usually does not greatly affect grain or silage yields. Stalk bruising and rain
splash will cause more stalk disease and smuts to occur. Lodged corn should recover. Some “goose necking” of lodged plants can occur but is usually not serious. Maturity delays depend on defoliation
damage and temperatures throughout the season. Continued warm weather will minimize maturity delays.
– Total defoliation of young sunflower plants up to bud stage usually causes little yield loss if storm damage is minimal. Damage to the terminal bud will delay maturity, cause yield losses and
production of multiple heads. Multiple heads do not yield well and may lodge or break easily. Stem bruises if severe can open plant to stalk diseases and possible lodging problems later in the season.
– Hail that accumulates without destroying the stalk of soybeans (corn and dry beans as well) may freeze the growing point. If no new growth appears within five days and the growing point is dark
and soft, the plant has been killed. The growing point of beans is located in the top of the plant and in leaf axils. Growing points of beans are easily damaged by hail soon after emergence. Regrowth
will not occur if hail stones cut the stem off below the cotyledonary node. If the top of the plant is damaged, regrowth can occur from one or more axillary buds. Bean stems may be bruised or
broken. The damage may not be severe enough to kill the plant. However, the plant may lodge later as the callus tissue is weak and cannot support the pod weight. Reduction in stands to four plants
per linear foot of row can still produce fair yields.
– Terry Gregoire, NDSU Extension Service
Five Factors To Consider When Evaluating Hail Damage 1. Is it covered by insurance? 2. Stage of growth of crop. Grains hailed prior to boot will recover. 3. Severity of damage.
4. Will potential yield following hail pay for harvesting cost, and loss in potential nutrients and moisture that would be available to next year’s crop? 5. Do you need livestock feed and forage?
Bloom Key Soybean Development Stage The beginning bloom stage or R1 stage in soybeans is marked by the plants having at least one
flower on any node of the main stem. If there is still a need to spray for weeds, check the label carefully for spraying after flowering begins. There are a number of herbicides that can be used after
flowering begins. Always read and follow label guidelines when using pesticides.
Soybeans are at 50% bloom when an open flower can be found on every other plant in a row. Flowering, unlike maturity on soybeans, begins toward the bottom of the plant (at the third to sixth
node) and then progresses upward and back downward. Branches off of the main stem will flower a few days later than the main stem. While flowering begins at the base of the plant and proceeds to
the top of the plant, physiological maturity of the beans will progress anywhere on the plant stem.
Normally, soybean pods will be mature in the middle or top of the plant and down. Thus, remember to check pods toward the bottom of the plant when determining if harvest time has come.
Flowering of soybeans is an important time in bean growth and development. At stage R2, full bloom, each plant has accumulated about 25% of its total dry weight and nutrients; it has attained
about 50% of its mature height; and, it has produced 50% of its total mature node number.
This later flowering stage begins the period of very rapid N-P-K and dry matter accumulation that will continue through R6. Also, during flowering, the soybean plant gears up on its nitrogen fixation in
order to provide for the demands of the plant. Scout for disease and insect problems (aphids) during this critical early time period of flowering.
– University of Minnesota Extension Service
Relative Maturity Of Various Field Crops Below is the average days to physiological maturity of many crops grown in North Dakota. Early
killing frost plus extreme high temperatures at flowering stages are the two factors most limiting yields of late planted crops.
Time required for maturity varies with variety or hybrid, seeding date, geographic region, and available growing degree days. A shortage of growing degree days can increase days required for
maturity. Corn, soybean, sunflower and millet are especially sensitive.
If all leaves on a soybean plant are killed between full seed stage and beginning maturity, 53% or less of yield can be lost. A freeze before maturity has less effect on yield the closer the freeze date is
to mature date. Air temperatures of 29 degrees F are necessary to completely kill soybean plants.
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Percent Of Yield Produced By Various Soybean Growth Stages
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Growth Stage Yield
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Days After Bloom Begins
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Days to Maturity
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Percent of Total
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Begin pod
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15
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68
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--
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Full pod
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24
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59
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--
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Begin seed
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33
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50
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25
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Full seed
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48
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35
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47
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Begin maturity
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73
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10
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95
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Full maturity
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83
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0
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100
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Source: University of MN
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Seeding to Physiological Maturity or Swathing Stage (Days)
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Crop
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Days
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Crop
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Days
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Barley
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70-85
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Soybean
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105-120
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Oats
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82-98
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Sunflower
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90-115
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Hard Red Spring Wheat
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83-98
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Dry Bean
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85-110
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Durum Wheat
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85-100
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Proso Millet
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70-90
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Flax
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90-100
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Buckwheat
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70-80
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Corn
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100-120
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Sugarbeet
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Frost
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Rapeseed (Canola)
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85-105
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Triticale
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75-85
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Mustard
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85-100
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Lentils
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80-90
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IPM Surveys Track Growing Season Field Pests Crop scouting results from North Dakota field surveys are posted on the NDSU IPM web page at: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/ndipm/. This site provides maps and updates indicating weekly
survey results for diseases and insect pests of various field crops. Links to additional information about these pests and other IPM (integrated pest management) resources are provided as well.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Plant Pest Survey and Crop Pest Fact Sheets can be found online at www.mda.state.mn.us/pestsurvey/
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