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SDS affecting some Wisconsin, Illinois soybeans

 

Some soybean farmers are reporting disease losses in Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  Seed dealers Jeff and Alex Renk have been getting feedback from farmers and from watching their own southern Wisconsin test plots near Sun Prairie.

Alex Renk tells Brownfield conditions were right for Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in some areas. He says, “Normally, it’s not an issue whatsoever, but this year with the hot, wet conditions, compact soils when they get wet will be a breeding ground for Sudden Death, so we’re seeing it here in our test plot on our farm, which we’ve never seen before.”

He says SDS in soybeans often comes as a surprise, starting in the roots before showing symptoms, and then killing the soybean plants in a matter of days.

Jeff Renk says he’s heard from farmers in these areas about two disease concerns.  “They guys that have excess water, especially where they had standing or ponding, there’s some disease pressure and some diseases that you might not normally see at this time of the year.  Some guys are starting to raise their eyebrows about White Mold, but I think its been a little bit too hot for that.  Sudden Death has been the big talk so far that I’ve heard.”  He says farmers have to scout their fields.  “There are fields where it will be apparent from the road, but those are extreme fields that the guys have got a lot of rain or standing water, but even if you don’t see it from the road, I think if you walk in, especially in a plot situation like we have here, start pushing the canopy back.  You’re going to start finding dead plants.”

Overall, the Renk family says another record Wisconsin soybean harvest is possible, even with isolated disease problems.