A new thing that I am going to TRY to do is Farm Fact Fridays!  Instead of a Word of the Day I am going to do a Farm Fact on Friday.  This Friday I have exactly 23 min to get it in before it becomes Saturday. 

Today we are going to explore the wonder that is a Soybean Aphid.  My handsome husband came up with this particular word for Farm Fact Friday.  Per usual I will tell you what I think it is and then tell you what it actually is.

My Definition:  I actually have NO IDEA what this could possibly be.  I know it has something to do w/ Soybeans and while I am usually pretty good w/ vocabulary words I am at a loss as to what Aphid is.  I am going to guess that it is some type of shell on the soybean that has to be taken off… ???

Actual Definition:  OK, so… EWWWWWW!!! THis is a BUG!!!! And a VERY GROSS looking BUG at that!!!

Soybean aphids cause damage by sucking plant sap. Symptoms of feeding damage are  plant stunting, yellow and puckered leaves, and reduced pod numbers. Yield loss is related to aphid density at specific crop stages and on the condition of the crop.  Risk of yield loss is greatest when aphid populations peak at beginning flower because of the impact on pod set.

Definition found at http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/soyhealth/aglycine.htm
Photo found at www.ars.usda.gov/…/Soybean%20Aphid2.jpg

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