News

White mold prevention underway

A plant pathologist says growers need to be making white mold management decisions as soybeans begin to set pods.

Michigan State University’s Marty Chilvers tells Brownfield, “With white mold, we need to be proactive, and if we are going to make an application, that really needs to be made between that R1 to R3 growth stage.”

“We’re getting close to the end of that R3 growth stage, so it’s really important just to be aware of where your crop is at,” he recommends.

Chilvers says the extreme heat should limit its impact on the crop.

“White mold really likes cooler temperatures, below 85°F during the day,” he explains. “We have had some warmer temperatures during flowering, so that’s probably reduced our risk significantly.”

He says fungicide applications aren’t always profitable if the threat of disease is low which is why regularly scouting and keeping good field histories are important.