Warmer-than-normal temperatures could mean trouble for next year’s fields. 

Even though this year’s growing season is still in motion, it’s already time to start thinking about what you might need to do differently next season to maximize your soybeans’ yield potential.

This year, May experienced unusually warm temperatures, and those temperatures carried into June and July. This especially occurred in IA, as the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently reported that soybean crop development was 7 to 14 days ahead of schedule. While this may seem like a good thing, it can actually be a sign of trouble.

Iowa State University Extension reports that quicker crop development could lead to increased soybean cyst nematode (SCN) presence. In early June, there were already reports of SCN females seen on roots just 26 days after planting. SCN females typically do not appear until 35 days or more after planting. Once SCN are present in a field, they are there to stay. However, there are measures you can take to keep them from significantly impacting yields.

It’s recommended to sample fields in the fall to monitor SCN populations, and continue testing soils until winter comes. North Dakota State University recommends crop rotation in addition to soil sampling. The greatest reduction in SCN eggs is typically seen when crop rotation is part of your management plan.

Soil sampling and crop rotation are crucial to managing SCN, and adding a nematicide seed treatment can help further protect seeds from SCN. Syngenta recommends using Clariva^® Elite Beans seed treatment, an easy-to-handle premix of Clariva pn nematicide and CruiserMaxx^® Vibrance^® seed treatment. Clariva Elite Beans is the only seed treatment on the market that provides season-long, lethal activity and broad-spectrum protection against SCN.

This fall, collect soil samples from your fields to see if there’s been an increase in SCN. Prepare next year’s fields now so your crops can thrive.

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