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‘Tis the season for Sudden Death Syndrome

‘Tis the season for Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans.

Brad Skifter, owner of SKG Ag Services in Grand Meadow, Minnesota, says farmers will notice the symptoms while scouting

“The beans will show green and the rest of the plant turning yellow.  Other diseases and fertilizer deficiencies can also do that.  But for the most part, what we’re seeing out there with that symptomology is the SDS.”

He tells Brownfield some soybean varieties are more susceptible to SDS than others, and if it’s present in the soil, seed selection will be critical for next year. Crop rotation will also help.

“It can help, but is not a long-term solution.  You’re going to have to do some management things.  SDS can sometimes be associated with some pH issues and things like that too, but the big thing there is the variety selection.”

Skifter is also a sales representative for DuPont Pioneer and says reports of SDS are coming not only from southeast Minnesota, but all over the company’s territory.