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SCN populations continue to spread across Midwest

An extension plant pathologist says soybean cyst nematode is a year-round issue for farmers.

Dylan Mangel with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says SCN populations continue to spread across the Midwest.

“It’s not just that they are spreading, but those nematodes are actually evolving to get better at reproducing on the resistance varieties that we have available,” Mangel said. “It’s getting worse out there. That’s why we’re here is because is causes about a billion and a half dollars damage every year for U.S. growers.”

He tells Brownfield it’s easy for growers to be unaware that SCN is impacting their soybean fields.

“It’s not causing noticeable above-ground symptoms,” Mangel said. “It’s just a parasite that’s sapping yield away from these beans. While it’s not going to wipe your yield out to zero, it’s going to steal a little bit from a lot of fields.”

Jeremiah Mullock, seed treatment product manager for BASF, says seed treatments like Ilevo can help reduce the occurrence of SCN.

“It’s a seed treatment nematicide and fungicide,” Mullock said. “It’s applied before the seed goes in the ground. Like any SCN management, all that protection and decisions occur before the seed goes in the ground.”

Mangel and Mullock spoke to Brownfield during SCN Action Month, which occurs during October. That interview can be found below.