NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Nematodes continue to be an issue for soybean growers this year.
The damage can look like other field problems, which is why agronomists are pushing for more soil sampling.
Syngenta agronomist Logan Dinkla says nematode injury can be difficult to identify because the pests feed below the soil.
“Nematode injury can be mistaken for a lot of different things as we’re looking at a field, unlike an aphid or grasshopper, where you see the impact it’s causing. Nematodes are below the soil and feeding on the roots, which can look like a lot of different things.”
Dinkla says fall soil sampling can help producers determine whether nematodes are present and how much pressure they are creating.
“Fall soil sampling really allows us to set a baseline for one: Do we have nematodes? And two: How high is the pressure, and what kind of plan do we need to make for next year and future years?”
Dinkla notes that when soybean cyst nematode appears in a field, it never leaves.
Once it arrives, the best a producer can do is manage the pest and reduce its impact on yields.
