News

Disease pressure building following June rains

A field crops pathologist says heavy rains last month in some regions have triggered disease issues for soybeans.

Marty Chilvers with Michigan State University tells Brownfield on clay soils that have been slow to drain, phytophthora root rot and sudden death syndrome are more pronounced than in previous years.

“We’ve definitely lost plants because of lack of oxygen just because of the flooding conditions,” he says.

Chilvers says white mold has also kicked up and spraying will likely be more common in fields with a history of the disease.

“That decision should really go back to field history—‘Have I had this disease in the past?’” he says.

He recommends following the Sporecaster app from the University of Wisconsin to track white mold movement and spraying when thresholds reach 40 percent.