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BASF agronomist discusses Nemasphere, first SCN biotech trait

A seed agronomist says soybean cyst nematode has become increasingly problematic in recent years.

Bill Backhaus with BASF says SCN populations have been adapting to SCN-resistant varieties.

“This year we’ve got pretty good beans out there. If you drive around, you see a lot of great looking fields, but we’re being robbed right now. So if you think about it, you know guys that raise cattle and you’ve got a whole cattle herd. You’ve got a cattle herd basically underneath the ground feeding on your roots right now that you don’t even know that’s there.”

He tells Brownfield BASF has introduced Nemasphere, the first biotechnology nematode resistance trait.

“It’s the first tool we’ve had in over 60 years. Nothing has happened with soybean cyst nematode. What we’ve been using is Peking and PI 88788. That’s been our tools we’ve had to date, but we’re going to stack those together. So we’re going to have a PI 88788 plus Nemasphere or a Peking plus Nemasphere.”

Backhaus says Nemasphere is expected to be made available in 2028, pending regulatory approval.

He spoke to Brownfield at BASF’s Iowa Innovations Field Day on Tuesday. That interview can be heard below.