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Corn nematode management on growers’ radar
The agronomy education lead with Beck’s Hybrids says Midwestern corn growers may be losing yield to corn nematodes.
Matt Montgomery says awareness is increasing around the native soilborne organisms.
“We’re appreciating through some of the survey work that’s been done overtime that corn nematodes are a little bit more widespread.” He says, “That shouldn’t be surprising. Corn nematodes grew up on grass prairie. They were here to begin with.”
He tells Brownfield soil testing is the first step in a management plan.
“Soil sampling or soil testing to see what those numbers look like.” He says, “That really is important. That’s the very best way for us to get a feel for what we’re looking at for populations.”
Montgomery says once populations are determined other management strategies include the use of seed treatments and crop rotations to minimize corn nematode impact.
AUDIO: Matt Montgomery – Beck’s Hybrids
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