Last week we focused on issues found in corn during the 2018 growing season. This week, we’re turning our focus on issues found in soybeans throughout the year and how we can prepare for those same scenarios in 2019.
Phomopsis Complex Phomopsis is not a commonly observed disease in soybeans; however, because of the weather conditions that occurred during harvest, in some areas the disease was able to cross the barrier of the pod wall in soybeans and infect the seed within. In severe cases it leads to chalky white, shrunken seeds with a wrinkled appearance. In the case of seed production, infected seed will need to be “scrubbed” prior to planting by applying a fungicide that kills any of the disease that may remain viable on the seed surface. Stine® XP seed treatment products offer excellent control and scrubbing ability for the Phomopsis complex.
Cercospera
Cercospera, or “purple seed stain,” is another disease not regularly seen in the upper Midwest. However, because of environmental conditions, it has been prevalent in some Midwestern areas. Seed treatments are recommended in the areas that have experienced the disease.
Extended Node Abortion
This phenomenon describes “blank” areas on soybean plants. Many growers reported areas of fields with “blank” nodes or no pods at certain sections in the plant. Perhaps it was mid-canopy or in the upper canopy. We sometimes see one node that will not have pods, but rarely do we see several nodes missing pod set. This situation was caused by extended periods of heat without adequate soil moisture. The plants, in an attempt to preserve existing yield, would abort new pods in favor of filling existing pods. The best management strategy to mitigate this issue is to choose varieties that have the highest yield capability for the maturity zone. Stine soybean seeds are known in the industry to be some of the highest-yielding material, so our portfolio had an exceptional year as we checked yields across the Midwest this fall.
If there was a disease, pest or other area of concern in your fields this year, consult with your local Stine sales agronomist to learn how you can mitigate the issue in 2019.