ST. LOUIS (Oct. 20, 2009) – Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) rob U.S. soybean farmers of between 100 to 150 million bushels of yield, depending on the year, more than any other disease or pest, according to a soybean-checkoff-funded survey. That’s why the soybean checkoff invests in production research to combat SCN and other yield-robbers and emphasize the value of its work on SCN standardization.

The checkoff collaborates with researchers like Terry Niblack, Ph.D., University of Illinois to verify SCN resistance in seed varieties. At the urging of the United Soybean Board (USB), Niblack, along with other Illinois researchers, began industry collaboration in 2007 to determine the ideal standards for SCN resistance. The findings were presented to the National SCN Conference in 2008, where participants voted to accept the standards, and its details were published. The new standards could ensure that seed company varieties claiming to be resistant to SCN really do control SCN infestation.

"Several years ago we tested many varieties and found that two-thirds of the varieties labeled as SCN resistant were not really resistant, according to our assessment," says Niblack. "Now, over 85 percent of the varieties labeled as SCN resistant show resistance. The standardization has the effect of encouraging the companies to correctly label their seed."

The standardization also provides soybean farmers with more information on SCN, allowing them to make better decisions to control this yield-robber. Different Heterodera glycine (HG) types or races of SCN exist and varieties that control one type may not control other types.

"Most SCN resistant varieties only cover one HG type, so if you have another type in your fields, you may not get adequate control," says Jim Legvold, USB director and soybean farmer from Vincent, Iowa. "We are also seeing HG type shift in SCN, so knowing which seeds provide resistance to which HG type will help U.S. soybean farmers make better decisions."

To best utilize this information, farmers first need to know what type and level of infestation of SCN they’re facing. Farmers can find this out through soil tests, with most land-grant universities offering this service. Niblack receives many requests from other states to do Type testing. Legvold has first hand knowledge of how the small investment for the soil test pays for itself in allowing him and other U.S. soybean farmers to better control SCN.

"The standardization allows soybean farmers to compare apples to apples," says Niblack. "With this system, farmers will know seed meets the SCN-resistance standards. Now the burden falls on the seed companies to prove their resistance with this label."

Niblack says this work would not have been possible without the soybean checkoff and that it wouldn’t have gone anywhere without checkoff support.

"The soybean checkoff invests millions of dollars into research to battle yield-robbers, improve soybean composition and improve production practices," says Legvold, one of 12 USB farmer-leaders who help direct USB’s Production Research Program. "The checkoff also funds collaboration among researchers to coordinate the brilliant minds in the U.S. soybean industry together to solve problems."

USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.