By Blake Jackson
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a major pest of soybeans that can cause significant yield losses. If you are a soybean grower in Pennsylvania, it is important to test your fields for SCN on a regular basis.
The Penn State Extension Agronomy Team offers free SCN testing to farmers in Pennsylvania. To take advantage of the free testing program, send your soil samples to Dr. Dilooshi Weerasooriya at the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at The Pennsylvania State University.
Here are some reasons why soybean growers should test their fields for SCN:
- SCN can cause yield losses of up to 50%.
- SCN can go unnoticed for many years while its populations continue to increase.
- SCN can reproduce in most soybean varieties with purported resistance to it.
- SCN has been found in the counties with the largest area dedicated to soybean production in Pennsylvania, as well as seven additional counties.
Soil samples for SCN can be taken any time during the growing season but fall after soybean harvest is the most convenient time. To collect soil samples, collect soil cores at a depth of 6-8 inches in a zigzag pattern. We recommend collecting at least 20 cores for areas of 20 acres or smaller.
Once you have collected your soil samples, label them with your name, phone number, email address, field address or GPS coordinates, current crop, previous crop, and acreage. Place the samples in a refrigerator (not the freezer) until they are submitted to the lab.
If you have questions about the free testing program, contact Adriana Murillo-Williams (axm1119@psu.edu, 814-359-7483), Paul Esker (pde6@psu.edu) or Alyssa Collins (aac18@psu.edu).
You can also contact your local Penn State agronomy Extension educator for more information.
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Soybeans