GREENSBORO, N.C., USA, – Many soybean farmers don’t realize their fields may be a buffet for soybean cyst nematodes (SCN), despite the use of SCN-resistant soybean varieties.
These microscopic, parasitic worms lurk beneath the soil and can feed off soybean plant roots for some time, before any above-ground crop damage is noticed. By then, the SCN population has grown much more numerous and stronger, becoming difficult to control as well as a huge economic threat to soybean farmers.
“In recent years, an increase in aggressive SCN populations, which can feed and reproduce on resistant varieties, has been widely documented throughout the north central U.S.,” said Sam Markell, Ph.D., associate professor and Extension plant pathologist at North Dakota State University.
Soybean farmers are used to selecting a resistant variety and assuming SCN will be managed in their field. Most are totally unaware of the slow-moving disaster posed by the changing pathogen.
A survey of 1,100 soybean farmers across 17 states, conducted in late 2015, identified SCN as one of the biggest foes of soybean crops. Of those surveyed, 63 percent indicated they were growing SCN-resistant soybean varieties, while the majority of respondents knew only “a little” or “nothing” about SCN. Worse yet, 66 percent were not scouting or sampling for SCN.
- Syngenta collaborated with five land-grant universities to design the survey, following their July 2015 meeting to dissect the biology and manage SCN. Other findings from the survey showed:
- 60 percent who grew SCN-resistant soybeans were growing them on all soybean acres
- 68 percent who grew SCN-resistant soybean varieties didn’t know the source of resistance in the varieties
- 69 percent of growers didn’t think SCN-resistant varieties were less effective today than in the past, contrary to widespread evidence of SCN populations adapting to genetic resistance
“Using the same source of resistance for more than 25 years has reduced the efficacy today, in a similar way as if we used the same herbicide over and over again,” said Greg Tylka, Ph.D., professor and Extension nematologist at Iowa State University.
The SCN populations are changing all around the country, but the way we manage SCN is not. “We are on the front end of a crisis similar to herbicide-resistant weeds and even costlier to farmers,” said Shawn Conley, Ph.D., professor and Extension agronomist at University of Wisconsin-Madison. “From an agronomic point of view and to keep productivity high, this is alarming.”
Like herbicide resistant weeds, the looming SCN crisis will not be averted if everyone doesn’t come together for a common goal.
“It’s going to take a group effort like the ‘Resistance Fighter’ campaign from Syngenta for herbicide resistance to prevent an even larger crisis with SCN,” said Seth Naeve, associate professor and Extension agronomist at University of Minnesota.
With Resistance Fighter, Syngenta and key universities were joined by grower groups in an urgent effort to educate farmers, as well as seed and herbicide suppliers, how to manage and delay the looming threat of herbicide resistance. Diversity was the key to success.
“The time is right to do something similar for SCN,” said Palle Pedersen, Ph.D., head of Seedcare product marketing for Syngenta. “We are standing at the edge of a cliff right now and none of our tools can do it alone.”
To preserve the effectiveness of SCN-resistant varieties, Pedersen recommends farmers implement a multipronged solution that includes technologies like seed treatments, with a completely different mode of action.
“We know what happens when only one mode of action is used to manage weeds, so let’s not head down that road and hit those same potholes,” said Pedersen.
More research is underway to document the importance of using alternative solutions to slow down the development of SCN resistance.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit
www.syngenta.com and
www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter
® at
www.twitter.com/Syngenta
Media Contacts:
Ann Bryan
336.632.2486
ann.bryan@syngenta.com
Karyn Ostrom
919.870.5718
kostrom@gscommunication.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract there for.
©2016 Syngenta, 410 S Swing Rd, Greensboro, NC 27409. The Syngenta logo is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company.