Imagine a thief that is virtually unseen by the naked eye. It slips into soybean crops through the soil, quietly releasing up to 250 eggs every generation that feed off of, and later tear through, soybean’s delicate root system. This pest not only plunders the health of crops, but a soybean cyst nematode (SCN) infestation can loot a hard-earned bottom line, too.

Researchers with the University of Nebraska Extension say yield losses in soybeans due to SCN have been estimated at more than $1.5 to 2 billion in the U.S. Because the nematode may be present in fields without causing visible above-ground symptoms, damage is often underestimated. In fact, many producers suffer declining yields for several years while their SCN problem goes unnoticed. Sure, this puny pest is robbing from the industry, but how much damage can SCN do to an individual grower’s investment?

A female SCN bursting with eggs

SCN infected fields commonly experience annual yield losses of 5-15%, but reductions of more than 30 percent are possible, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Without proper detection of and protection from this microscopic pest, negative yield and economic impacts will continue season-by-season. An annual yield loss of 30 percent is a big price to pay, especially since growers can identify SCN with yearly soil sampling and protect their crop with the right management strategy.

To manage SCN and enhance yield potential in 2016, consider planting SCN-resistant NK® Soybean varieties treated with Clariva® Complete Beans seed treatment, a combination of separately registered products. Clariva Complete Beans is the only available nematicide seed treatment that protects soybeans from SCN all season long; this is crucial as SCN reproduces throughout the growing season. It also reduces the selection pressure that renders genetic resistance less effective, as well as reduces damage from SCN-related diseases such as sudden death syndrome (SDS). Clariva Complete Beans offers broad-spectrum, early-season disease and insect pest protection. Adding Mertect® 340-F fungicide to Clariva Complete Beans further increases the protection against SDS by adding a direct mode of action against the pathogen.

Sign up for the Know More, Grow More Digest to receive twice monthly agronomic e-mail updates pertinent to your area.

Photos are either the property of Syngenta or used under agreement.

Syngenta hereby disclaims liability for third party websites.