Database Research SummariesExpanding the SCN Coalition: Resistance management and awareness campaign
Research Focus
Samuel Markell (Project Leader, North Dakota State University)
Co- investigators from Alabama, New York, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Okalahoma, Ontario Canada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Illinois, Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Virginia and South Carolina.
Private Partners to date: Bayer, BASF, Corn+Soybean Digest, Growmark, Monsanto, Pioneer, Syngenta, Winfield United.
Public Partners: North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), United Soybean Board (USB), dozens of state universities and Quality State Soybean Boards
Objectives
The mission of the Second Soybean Cyst Nematode Coalition is to develop an SCN Resistance Management and Awareness Campaign to educate growers and industry on the reality of SCN resistance development, to slow the development of highly aggressive SCN populations, and to minimize increasing levels of yield loss.
Our goals are to
- “Turn up the volume” on the need for SCN management. Get the message out that SCN testing is easy and SCN management is possible.
- Increase the number of growers who agree that SCN is adapting and overcoming resistance from 57% (2015 estimated) by fall 2019. Target is a 10% increase.
- Increase the number of growers scouting/sampling for SCN from 34% (2015 estimated) by fall 2019. The target is a 7% increase.
- Increase the number of growers who are rotating SCN-resistant varieties from 30% (2015 estimated) by fall 2019. The target is a 10% increase.
Results
- Between 2015 and 2017, a national public-private partnership with a shared vision was developed to help growers reduce risk to the yield threat posed by the breakdown of Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) resistance. With foundational support from North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), the SCN Coalition leveraged support from United Soybean Board (USB) and private partners and launched ‘The SCN Coalition’ at Commodity Classic in February 2018. Concurrently, a cover page article called Beat SCN Resistance was published in the December 2018 issue of the Corn+Soybean Digest.
- The resource center theSCNCoalition.com is actively visited. The website is the ‘face’ of the SCN coalition to growers and stakeholders across the country and is equipped with training videos, grower testimonials, downloadable print and electronic educational pieces and local information by states and partners.
- The SCN Coalition was present at the 2019 Commodity Classic held in Orlando, Florida from February 28 – March 2, 2019. Commodity Classic is one of the largest agricultural shows in the U.S., with 9,000+ attendees, with approximately 4,500 of them farmers. It also is heavily covered by media throughout North America.
- Six notable activities occurred at Commodity Classic; a Press Conference, a Learning Center Session, two preliminary visits to new partners (NuFarm and Valent), visits with two possible major media partners (DTN/Progressive Farmer and Farm Journal), media interviews with a reach exceeding 1 Million people and release of the National Soybean Nematode Strategic Plan.
- The Press Conference featured Dr. Melissa Mitchum, University of Missouri, introducing the National Soybean Nematode Strategic Plan. Mitchum described cutting edge research, funded by the checkoff, to manage SCN. Dr. Mitchum was interviewed by two ag media representatives for nearly an hour after the scheduled press conference.
- Media personality Tyne Morgan, host of U.S. Farm Report, moderated a panel of three scientists and three growers from different regions of the country. This included Dr. Kathy Lawrence (Auburn University), North Carolina soybean grower Kip Roberson, Dr. Albert Tenuta (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), Minnesota grower Pat Duncanson, Dr. Greg Tylka (Iowa State University) and Iowa soybean grower Ron Heck. Tyne Morgan navigated the panel through a very informative and light (humorous) hour-long session about managing SCN across North America. The role of checkoff funding was repeatedly discussed, and numerous media interviews followed.
Importance
- The SCN Coalition is providing soybean farmers across the country with knowledge needed to protect yield. Many farmers don’t know their fields are infested with SCN – you often can’t tell SCN is there from looking at the field.
- The effect of SCN on soybean yield is directly related to the numbers of nematodes feeding on the root system. Currently, SCN causes an estimated $1 billion yield loss to soybean growers annually, and without intervention, that number will likely increase.
- SCN can be managed. Optimal use of current management tools and monitoring the effectiveness of those tools can protect yield. Success will show through reduced yield loss due to SCN.
- Active management will help preserve the effectiveness of PI88788 (the most effective source of genetic resistance), reducing yield loss in the future.
For more information about this research project, please visit the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database.
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff.
