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The Plant Health Initiative was founded by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) with soybean check-off dollars to coordinate soybean production research on a regional level. The North Central region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Our goal is to better understand and manage soybean pests and diseases and make the latest information readily available to soybean producers.

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This soybean variety test is in a field with pressure from brown stem rot. Photo credit: Craig Grau, University of Wisconsin

Take Advantage of the Latest Soybean Performance Trials When Selecting Varieties for 2009

November 19, 2008

State extension soybean variety tests are one of your best sources of information on the performance of soybean varieties, including resistance to pests and diseases. The tests include the soybean varieties that seed companies feel have the best potential, plus popular entries from each university.

Results from the 2008 variety trials conducted by each of the twelve North Central land-grant universities have just been published and can be read online»
Read more about variety testing»

Fall is an Ideal Time to Sample Soil for SCN

October 8, 2008

Sample after the corn harvest and before next soybean crop. Photo credit: ISU Soybean Cyst Nematode Lab

Soybean cyst nematode is one of the most important diseases of soybeans. Up to 30% yield loss can occur because plants are producing fewer pods than they should. Fall is an ideal time to check for SCN in the soil.

Sample fields where soybeans will be grown in 2009, and before buying soybeans for next season. You may also want to sample fields where SCN infestation is suspected because of poor plant growth, and in those fields where sudden death syndrome (SDS) occurred, as SCN predisposes soybeans to SDS.

The equipment you need for sampling soil for SCN is the same equipment you use for taking a soil sample for soil nutrient analysis: a soil probe, a bucket, and a plastic or plastic-lined soil bag. Sample the top 6 to 8 inches of soil. Take cores from within the root zone or from within the interrow area. You'll want to take 10 to 20 cores in a 20 acre area. Read more about how to sample»

The NCSRP Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide is one of many good resources that can help you with answers to frequently-asked questions and SCN recommendations. The information is based on decades of research on soybean management in SCN-infested fields. Order your free print copy of the SCN Management Guide from NCSRP, or read online»

Information on these pages is from the cooperative effort of researchers throughout the North Central states. Information from this site can be copied and distributed for educational use. Please credit the source with our name and URL: NCSRP Plant Health Initiative at www.planthealth.info. Please do not use copyrighted photos without permission.