Field Days Focus on Soybean Cyst Nematodes

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LINCOLN, Neb. -- Four field days in late August and early September will focus on the dangers of soybean cyst nematodes.

Last year, the nematodes reduced Nebraska soybean yields by about 2.3 million bushels, for an impact of $25 million. Yield losses of 20 to 30 percent have been documented, with no visible above-ground symptoms, said John Wilson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator.

The field days, conducted by UNL Extension, will alert growers to the damage caused by soybean cyst nematodes in Nebraska and will help them learn to identify and manage SCN to minimize its impact on yields.

"If SCN caused holes, lesions, spots or other plant abnormalities, it would be much easier to convince producers to test for and manage it," Wilson said. "However, infested plants usually look healthy. The first indication of a problem is soybean yields that have leveled off or even started to drop while corn or other crop yields in the same field continue to improve."

Originally identified in counties bordering the Missouri River, SCN has been identified in 45 counties in eastern and central Nebraska as far west as Boyd, Holt, Valley, Buffalo, Kearney and Red Willow counties. As soybean production has moved across the state, so has the distribution of soybean cyst nematodes.

The field day schedule:

-- Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m., L.J. Keithley farm near Falls City; from Highway 73-67 junction, go two miles east of Highway 73 and one mile north on 650th Avenue.

-- Aug. 22, 10 a.m., ground farmed by Gene Olson and sons near Minden; from Minden go nine miles north on Highway 10, or three miles south of Interstate 80 from exit 279, then two miles east on V road and three-quarter mile south on 34 Road.

-- Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m., ground farmed by Bruce Luebbe near Goehner; take Goehner exit from Interstate 80, go one-half mile north on 364th Road to Goehner, two miles west on Holdrege Road, then one-half mile north on 392nd Road.

-- Sept. 4, 6:30 p.m., ground farmed by Dave Ellinghausen near West Point; from Highway 275-32 junction go five miles south on Highway 275, three miles east on B Road, then one-quarter mile south on 20th Road.

At each field day participants will be able to see SCN-resistant and susceptible soybean varieties, examine cysts on infested soybean plant's roots, learn how to identify and manage SCN infestations, receive a kit for one free SCN analysis ($20 value) and get answers to questions.

The field days are sponsored by UNL Extension with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board. For more information, contact your local UNL Extension office.