National Nematode Day is a great time to develop or revisit your SCN management plan.
Today marks the third National Nematode Day, a day that’s especially exciting for the winners of The SCN Coalition’s $250 sweepstakes:
– Logan Paschke
– Brad Gerten
– Erika Consoli
These winners qualified for the drawing by participating in The SCN Coalition’s “Are You Smarter Than a Nematode?” quizzes. This fun, engaging and informative series sponsored by BASF, Indigo, and Syngenta challenged participants to test their nematode knowledge.
“National Nematode Day is a fun and engaging way for The SCN Coalition to spread the word about parasitic nematode threats in soybeans,” says Horacio Lopez-Nicora, soybean pathologist and nematologist at Ohio State University. “Before the big day, a monthlong campaign reminded farmers about the urgent need to outsmart soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) — the number one threat to soybean yield across North America.”
Putting SCN knowledge to the test
Weekly quizzes leading up to National Nematode Day helped educate about plant-parasitic nematodes and their significance to soybean production.
Week 1: How often should soybean farmers test fields for SCN?
The answer is every three years.
Testing is the cornerstone of every successful SCN management plan, says Dylan Mangel, plant pathologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“We encourage farmers to get fields tested every three to five years, or after every second or third soybean crop — especially right after harvest when SCN numbers tend to peak,” says Mangel. “Regular testing not only lets you check if your current SCN management strategies are doing the job, but it also helps you spot when it’s time to shake things up with new tactics like trying nematode-protectant seed treatments. Plus, don’t miss out — many state checkoff organizations offer free soil testing, making it even easier to stay ahead of this yield-robbing pest.”
Week 2: Is SCN 100% resistant to PI 88788 soybean varieties?
The answer is it’s complicated.
“PI 88788 was a victim of its own success,” says Carl Bradley, plant pathologist at the University of Kentucky. “Most soybean varieties on the market rely on PI 88788 for its genetic resistance to SCN. But as this strategy became the norm, SCN began adapting, slowly building up resistance and making PI 88788 less effective over time.”
Bradley says the good news is soybean farmers have tools in their arsenal. “By rotating to other SCN-resistant varieties like those that use Peking as a source of resistance and rotating to a non-host crop, they can turn the tables on SCN and keep this yield-stealing pest in check.”
Week 3: Which root-knot nematode species is the most damaging and widespread?
The answer is southern root-knot nematode.
The SCN Coalition has expanded its education and awareness efforts to include other nematodes that impact soybean production because southern root-knot nematode is the No. 2 threat to the soybean crop in the southern U.S.
“Several root-knot nematode species can infest soybean fields, but the southern root-knot nematode is the most damaging and widespread,” says Lopez-Nicora. “While it’s impossible to eliminate its presence, proper active management can significantly help you reduce its impact.”
Take the Test
When farmers and agronomists understand the prevalent parasitic nematode issues, they are more inclined to test their fields.
SCN soil test results can be entered into the SCN Profit Checker calculator, allowing farmers to estimate the impact of SCN on each field. This individualized assessment offers compelling motivation for proactive management of the problem.
SCN Coalition
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