Up and running

Pan trapping of soybean aphids or "bad guys", as one farmer so humorously referred to, is finally up and running. Day 1 couldn't have gone any better. There was plenty of "weather"...clear skies filled with the golden rays of the sun and a warm breeze...which made it good to be out. There was also plenty of dust around farm fields generated by farm equipment as we were not the only ones out doing our thing.

We zig-zagged and snaked our way from one grid point to another along state highways, county, and township roads for most of the day with no issues from either local residents or other motorists. I think that was partly because of the yellow sign that was at the back of the van (see pic above) and also bright orange vests that we wore as we went about "planting" our traps along the roads -- we actually looked like a road maintenance crew. Hopefully, the next outing will be just as good!