The Indiana Certified Crop Adviser panel includes Danny Greene, Greene Crop Consulting, Franklin; Brian Overstreet, soil conservation coordinator, Rensselaer; and Dan Ritter, Hoegemeyer Hybrids, Rensselaer.

 

My son said that his Purdue University professor recommends pulling soil samples for soybean cyst nematode testing after corn harvest. We’ve never done this before, but he said that SCN can rob up to 30% of the yield the next time soybeans are planted. Is it worth it to start sampling for it now? I’ve never noticed problems in the past.

 

Greene: According to Iowa State University, soybean cyst nematode is known as the most damaging pest affecting soybeans in the country. SCN pressure can increase the impact of other diseases like sudden death syndrome. Since SCN damage can’t be directly seen in the aboveground plant parts, yield loss is often hidden. However, it is smart to discover whether SCN are present and at what levels.

 

To find out in the fall after corn as you mentioned, you or your crop adviser could take samples with a regular soil probe. Soil samples for SCN can also be taken in soybean stubble in the fall, in the spring before planting soybeans or in a standing soybean crop. Another way to detect SCN is to dig soybean roots in-season to look for female cysts. Head to thescncoalition.com for more information. The Indiana Soybean Alliance often offers programs that support testing for SCN, so check with them as well.

 

Overstreet: I have spent most of my career in northwestern Indiana, where we have had soybean cyst nematode issues for over 30 years. If you have never tested for SCN, it’s time to start. They can be a silent yield robber in many cases. In severe cases, it’s an obvious problem, but many times, they are there stealing your yield without you knowing. Once you know they are there, find a variety that is resistant to them.

 

Ritter: Soybean cyst nematode is called a silent yield robber for a reason. We often don’t see that subtle reduction in yield. Many times, the bigger yield hits are in tougher years and can get attributed to the environment and not to the pest. So the yield loss stays somewhat hidden or masked. Now is the time to start the monitoring process to at least know if you have an issue.

 

We are finding in some areas that even with the use of PI88788, SCN numbers are rising. The suspicion is that the repeated use of this resistance gene has increased, but its efficacy has decreased. Does this sound familiar? What we are seeing is that the Peking source of resistance is performing better. If your SCN numbers are high, rotate these sources of resistance to help keep both options viable in the future.