News Diseases Soybeans
Fall means sampling for soybean cyst nematode

Sampling for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) after or at soybean harvest is the “perfect opportunity to take the test,” according to the latest from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) field crop team.

Taking a couple more soil samples and adding a SCN analysis to the regular roster of soil tests can help growers determine the effectiveness of their SCN management and make adjustments for next year.

For many growers, managing soybean cyst nematode means planting SCN resistance varieties but effective SCN management does not end with soybean variety selection. It is imperative to not only know the SCN population levels in each of the fields, but what is happening to those levels over time. If SCN is decreasing, this would indicate the management program is working. If they are rising, it is a red flag indicating the problem is getting worse and could get out of hand, costing significant losses in yield, dollars and sleep. One of the most important decisions a producer can make concerning this devastating pest, is to take a SCN soil test.

The OMAFRA field crop team shares their best tips for soil sampling accurately and making sense of lab test results and what they mean for a producer’s SCN management program.