Soybean growers may be harvesting record yields but no one can deny Sudden Death Syndrome and Soybean Cyst Nematode are a big problem — in fact a staggering $1.6 billion is lost each year.
Once in the field, SDS and SCN cannot be eliminated. SDS attacks the root and the pathogen can enter the plant within 72 hours of planting. Plants can experience root rot without any foliar symptoms, and thus it is important to protect the root at the initial site of infection. Planning to use a seed treatment like ILeVO is a great way for growers to protect their investment and help ensure that SDS does not cause significant yield loss in the soybean crop.
Carl Bradley, University of Kentucky plant pathologist, said, “Growers do not always understand why yields are depressed; they will not necessarily see above-ground symptoms caused by SCN. Even if they dig up plants to look for SCN on the roots, they may be difficult to see. It is important that farmers collect soil samples in the Fall or after harvest and send them to a lab that can provide SCN egg count results. These results will help farmers better understand the risk of losing yield to SCN in those fields, which will help them make decisions on how to manage SCN for the next season and beyond.”
SDS and SCN can cause yield loss and damage independently. However, when both are present, there can be even more severe yield loss. It is important to protect against SDS and SCN to reduce the yield loss potential. With ILeVO, growers fight below ground pressures before they can occur. The seed treatment defends against SDS and offers broad-spectrum protection from nematodes, including SCN, in the seed zone throughout the critical growing period. On average, growers see a two to 10-bushel yield advantage with ILeVO compared to a Fungicide/Insecticide base treatment.
“Using a seed treatment like ILeVO is critical, as soybeans are protected the moment they are planted and incur less risk from SDS and nematode damage, leading to increased yield potential,” said Jeremiah Mullock, Bayer seed treatment product development manager.
