Gall midge is starting to show up in soybean fields in the western corn belt. Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Joel DeJong says he’s been getting reports of the pest on field borders in northwest Iowa. He says it’s a pest researchers don’t know much about because it is fairly new to the region.

He says this is actually the fourth year he’s noticed gall midge. However, it didn’t become widespread until last year.

DeJong says gall midge can do a lot of damage to soybean fields.

DeJong says after the pest goes through multiple generations, the populations will then move a little further into the field.