News

Perfect storm for white mold susceptibility

An agronomist for DEKALB Asgrow says conditions have been ripe for white mold pressure in soybeans.

Michigan’s Doug George tells Brownfield, “It was the perfect storm, particularly for white mold, because we got the heavy rains during a time period when the flowers were at their most vulnerable point to get white mold.”

George says there are multiple methods to combat the disease in addition to fungicides including crop rotation and adjusting future seeding rates.

“Make sure you’re not overpopulating,” he suggests. “You can widen your row lengths, get out of the drill and get more into 15, 20s, and 30s. Get more air flow down into that canopy, which helps you manage white mold, and then I would also particularly look at varieties.”

He also recommends farmers keep scouting for tar spot and other diseases that are also possible because of the wet start to July.

AUDIO: Doug George, DEKALB Asgrow