Free SCN tests available to Missouri farmers
University of Missouri Extension, SCN Diagnostics and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council are again offering free testing for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the No. 1 pathogen of soybean in the United States.
Red crown rot appears in two more Missouri counties
Red crown rot confirmed in Maries and Phelps counties; scout fields for irregular patches, especially in wet areas.
Scout deep into fields for tar spot
Good scouting is the best way to identify tar spot in corn, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Tar spot was confirmed in June of 2023 and 2024 in Missouri, which is earlier than in previous years, when the disease showed up in August or September. This earlier appearance is likely to continue because Missouri’s spring air temperatures are favorable for the disease, says Bish.
Do fungicides pay off in soybean?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fungicides can be an essential part of an integrated pest management plan, but they do not always provide a positive return on investment for soybean producers, according to University of Missouri strip trial research.
Red crown rot: No cure for this soybean disease
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Once red crown rot spreads, you cannot unspread it, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Currently, soybean and disease specialists know of no cure for red crown rot, which can reduce yields by an estimated 80% in severe cases. Seed treatments may reduce symptoms and infection, but these treatments cannot eliminate the fungus, which persists in the soil.
Early appearance of alfalfa weevils prompts need to scout
Early alfalfa weevil activity signals growers to scout fields and take action if infestations exceed economic thresholds.
Top 3 emerging disease issues going into 2022
#1 Tar spot of cornWho: Tar spot of corn, Phyllachora maydis
Soybean Cyst Nematode: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can substantially reduce yield, but it is not always obvious when the nematodes (Figure 1) are present. Leonardo Da Vinci's quote: "We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot" seems somewhat appropriate when discussing SCN levels in the soil.
Control of Fusarium Head Blight (or Scab) in Wheat
Wheat in southeast Missouri is near or at flowering, which suggest that wheat in many other regions of the state is roughly 1 to 2 weeks away. Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) (Figure 1) is a disease that can cause yield loss, reduced test weights, and reduced seed quality in wheat. The fungus that causes FHB, Fusarium graminearum, infects wheat from flowering to early grain fill stages and can also result in production of the mycotoxin…
Free SCN tests available to farmers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri farmers can submit two free tests to beat the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by contacting their county University of Missouri Extension center or the SCN Diagnostics laboratory.
SDS appearing in Missouri soybean fields
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomists reported during their weekly teleconference that sudden death syndrome (SDS) is showing up in soybean fields across the state. MU Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette says she is not surprised that the yield-robbing disease has reared its ugly head.
Scout for two emerging corn diseases in Midwest
Missouri corn growers should scout for bacterial leaf streak and tar spot, two emerging diseases causing significant yield losses in neighboring states.
Cold start to April delays crops
Unseasonably cold April weather in Missouri has delayed corn planting, stressed wheat fields, and strained pasture and hay supplies for farmers.
New MU plant pathologist talks seed treatments and SCN
COLUMBIA, Mo. – New University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette brings research on soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management to Missouri.SCN numbers are growing in Missouri as farmers devote more acres to soybean production. SCN infests about 75 percent of Missouri fields, according to a recent survey by MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources researcher Melissa Mitchum. Many of these fields have…