Fight SCN with Variety Selection
Soybean harvest will soon be here! As you are combining, you will no doubt question yourself about the performance of each of your fields. Is the yield at, above, or below your expectation? Was the variety you selected the right one for this particular ground? Was Mother Nature harder on you than normal, considering the flooding, ponding, drought, or hail the crop experienced? And in retrospect, would a more defensive or more offensive variety have performed better?
As you consider these questions, also consider the northern movement of Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). There is continuing evidence in ND and northern MN of the spread of SCN. SCN was first discovered in our region in 2003, and can now be found in at least 12 counties in ND and almost all soybean growing counties in MN. Although SCN is the biggest pest to soybeans in the United States, the spread in our region has not been rapid, and infestation has not reached economically challenged levels. By the time many pests, including SCN, reach the northern U.S., good agronomic practices or traits have usually been developed to fight them. This is just another advantage of living and farming in the north!
Variety selection is currently the number one tool to fight SCN, and the approaching harvest means it is time to select variety for next year’s crop. We have seen big advances in the genetics for our area that carry SCN resistance. In fact, the 2014 Peterson Farms Seed lineup has eight varieties with SCN resistance including 14R06N and 14R09N, shown here. The genetics are the same if not better than those without SCN resistance. These varieties also have excellent agronomic traits (IDC, Phytophthora, emergence, etc.) to complement the genetics. You will find a SCN soybean variety to fit any of your fields in our lineup.
Crop rotation helps to reduce the SCN numbers, but will never rid the soil of the pest. Rotation to non-host crops and some seed treatments can reduce numbers but will not fully protect yield. SCN harms soybean yields by reducing the amount of roots, thus robbing nutrients and water from the plant. Yield is affected before visual symptoms are noticeable.
If reduced yield spots appear during harvest, and you cannot attribute the spots to other factors, test your soil! Fall is still a good time to soil test for SCN by sampling the top 6”-8” of soil. You can sample the problem spots or areas in the field that are more prone to SCN introduction. Common areas for SCN introduction include field entrances, flooded areas, and fence lines.
If SCN is confirmed in your fields, implement crop rotation and plant SCN resistant varieties when growing soybeans. Use a good management approach to keep levels low.
