By Horacio Lopez-Nicora, OSU Soybean Disease Specialist; edited by Mark  Badertscher-OSU Extension, Hardin County

HARDIN COUNTY– The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most economically important  pathogen of soybean in North America and continues to spread throughout Ohio. If SCN levels  are above damage threshold, significant yield reduction can often take place without visible  symptoms. To know if the nematode is present in a field, soil sample for SCN testing must be  properly collected. The presence of SCN in a field, but most importantly, the SCN numbers will  determine the best management strategy. Therefore, you need to test your fields to know your  SCN numbers. 

With funding from the soybean check-off through Ohio Soybean Council and The SCN Coalition,  and in collaboration with OSU Extension Educators and growers, we extensively sampled  soybean fields in Ohio. From 2018 through 2022, a total of 1,074 soil samples from 60 (of 88)  counties in Ohio were submitted for SCN testing. Soybean cyst nematode is silently gaining  territory in Ohio as SCN numbers are rising. The ability to reproduce on soybean cultivars with  ‘SCN-resistance’ will limit our ability to protect Ohio soybean production. Active management  of SCN begins with an adequate and correct soil sample. 

We are excited to continue sampling soybean fields in Ohio to test for SCN with funding from  the Ohio Soybean Council and promoting the mission of The SCN Coalition. Our goal is to  sample more soybean fields, targeting those that have consistently been yielding low, under  continuous soybean or double crop, and with weed issues. We are excited to help with this task  by processing up to TWO soil samples, per grower, to be tested for SCN, free of charge. Contact  the Hardin County OSU Extension office if you are interested in SCN sampling this spring.