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Red crown rot expands in Missouri soybean fields

A regional agronomy manager with Beck’s Hybrids says soybean farmers should be scouting for red crown rot.

Scott Dickey says there’s been an increase in cases this season across the Midwest.

“It’s been confirmed in Illinois, Indiana and they found it in Iowa last week,” he says. “We’ve added a county or two in Missouri that has red crown rot.”

Dickey says if farmers think they’re seeing Sudden Death Syndrome in green soybean fields, it’s worth double checking to confirm it’s not red crown rot.

“Especially if you’re in northeast Missouri. That’s where the disease is starting to get a foothold. We are trying to learn all we can to reduce its impact.”

According to the Crop Protection Network, red crown rot has been confirmed in 12 Missouri counties so far this season, in both northeast and south-central parts of the state.