News

Soybean pathologist offers tips to manage soybean cyst nematodes

A soybean pathologist with the University of Nebraska Extension says it can be difficult to detect soybean cyst nematodes.

Dylan Mangel tells Brownfield…

“It has the ability to steal yield without any noticeable above-ground symptoms. This is a little bit wetter of a year than we’ve had the past couple of years and moisture sometimes tends to hide any symptoms that will be there,” he says.

Mangel says rotation with a non-host crop is an effective management tool.

“Corn is a non-host crop, so just a standard corn, soybean rotation is going to be a strong tool for controlling that level,” he says.

Mangel also recommends planting a resistant variety.

“There’s the PI-8788 resistance source. There’s also one called Peking,” he says. “Peking is by far the less common one, but it’s now the more effective one, so we’re encouraging growers to try planting Peking varieties and rotate Peking with the other resistance source.”

Several states, including Nebraska, offer free soil testing through local extension offices.

Mangel is a member of the SCN Coalition. He was interviewed during Farm Progress Days, in Boone, Iowa.

AUDIO: Dylan Mangel, University of Nebraska Extension, SCN Coalition