Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the number one pest of soybeans in Ontario and Quebec, causing significant yield loss, often without growers’ awareness of the problem until populations becoming endemic in a field.

Current surveys show SCN has not reached Manitoba but is present just across the border in North Dakota. Where soybeans go, so does SCN.

Yield losses often occur often before symptoms are visible in the field. Symptoms can be easily misdiagnosed for something else, like root rot, compaction, or lack of nutrients. Sometimes, by the time SCN is discovered to be the problem, populations are high enough to cripple yields.

Growers need to be proactive to identify and manage SCN while populations are low. Fall is the perfect time to scout for SCN by testing your fields soil for population numbers, ideally at the same time as collecting soil samples for nutrient analysis.

For more information, refer to the Soybean SCN Coalition website https://www.thescncoalition.com/