BASF and the SCN Coalition continue nematode education for second annual SCN Action Month

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, October 3, 2022 — Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) continues to be the leading cause of soybean yield loss in North America. BASF Agricultural Solutions and The SCN Coalition have joined forces for the second consecutive year to promote SCN Action Month, a monthlong initiative to provide growers with the tools and information they need to defend against this devastating pest.

Throughout October, BASF will once again provide free soil test kits to the first 500 growers who request online by October 31.

“We’re finding there are still growers who either aren’t aware of SCN or just don’t believe they have it in their field,” said Troy Bauer, BASF Senior Field Technical Representative for Seed Treatment – Western Corn Belt. “Soil testing during the month of October is key to this effort. When growers know their numbers, they can make a solid management plan for next year.”

Dan Ory, a grower in Earlham, Iowa received a free soil test kit from the SCN Action Month campaign last year and was surprised by his results.

“I had the opportunity to test my soil using one of the free test kits. I suspected we had nematodes, but I was surprised by how many,” Dan Ory said. “It was a revelation that has changed how I’ll approach my soybean fields going forward.”

Experts with The SCN Coalition say testing soil for SCN is the foundation for active SCN management.

“If a farmer doesn’t know he or she has SCN and isn’t actively managing it, yield potential can be lost,” said Iowa State University Nematologist Greg Tylka. “It may be three or four bushels per acre, or it might be 23 to 24 bushels per acre. But you won’t know until you test your soil.”

SCN is present in nearly all areas where soybeans are grown and continues to rapidly spread throughout all geographies. Damage occurs when nematodes invade plant roots and establish feeding sites that take nutrients and water from the plant, which results in reducing yield potential. Because the damage occurs below ground, nematodes can cause losses in soybean yield without any visible signs of plant damage. Last year, nematodes were found in 74% of the fields sampled during SCN Action Month.

There are three things growers should do for SCN Management: rotate crops, plant a resistant variety and consider a seed treatment. Watch this video online to learn more about planning and preparing to manage SCN in your fields, and to access even more SCN management resources, visit SCNActionMonth.com.

With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society, and the planet. In 2021, our division generated sales of €7.7 billion. For more information, please visit https://agriculture.basf.us or any of our social media channels. 

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,700 employees in North America and had sales of $25.9 billion in 2021. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.