Little bug causing big bean trouble; Minnesota farmers have declared war on the tiny but insidious soybean aphid, an exotic species that, combined with hot, dry weather, is threatening to dash hopes of record yields.(BUSINESS) From: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) | Date: August 21, 2003| Author: Powell, Joy | COPYRIGHT 2003 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: Joy Powell; Staff Writer

Minnesota's soybean farmers had enjoyed a glorious spring with potential for record yields - until tiny green insects called soybean aphids infested the fields and drought took hold.

While drought is as old as the wind, the fast-reproducing aphid, which migrated from eastern Asia, is a relatively new scourge. It is sucking the nutrients out of plants and money out of farmers' pockets.

"This is the worst infestation ...