News

Soybean Cyst Nematode footprint getting bigger

The geographic footprint of one of the biggest yield threats to soybeans is getting bigger.

Greg Tylka with the SCN Coalition says he’s about to update his map to reflect the expansion of Soybean Cyst Nematode in North America.

“I’m not completely done with my survey of all my colleagues throughout the U.S. and Canada, but already I know of new reports of new counties in Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Dakota, Ontario, and for the first time, the Province of Manitoba.”

He tells Brownfield those places weren’t on the SCN map as recently as 2017.

“So it’s another reminder that Soybean Cyst is out there. It’s widespread from East to West for soybean production, and from North to South. We keep at it, and farmers should keep at it as well.”

Tylka suggests the fall is an ideal time to collect soil samples to test for SCN, and he says the Coalition can help administer the tests.

He estimates even a moderate number of nematode eggs could reduce soybean yields by 20 to 30 bushels per-acre.