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Testing soils for SCN

A plant pathologist says soil samples should be taken regularly to help farmers battle soybean cyst nematode.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Dylan Mangel is a member of the SCN Coalition. “We like to say, ‘take the test, beat the pest.’ If you don’t know the last time you’ve soil sampled, it’s time to test again so you can see how it’s changed over time.”

He tells Brownfield management strategies should be implemented once an infestation is discovered. “There’s no choice or else it will get out of control,” he said. “The management options we recommend are rotating resistant varieties. Talk to your local advisors and see what resistant varieties they have. We also recommend rotating to a non-host crop.”

Mangel says SCN causes more than $1.5 billion in economic damage annually. He spoke to Brownfield at the 2022 Farm Progress Show.