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A soybean field showing healthy soybean plants, but roots are infested with SCN. The top right corner has an in-set picture that shows a soybean root with white pear-shaped SCN female cysts.

Drought Conditions May Increase Soybean Cyst Nematode Population in Soil

Moisture stress coupled with above-normal temperatures have been linked with increased soybean cyst nematode populations in the soil. In order to keep populations in the soil below the yield-reducing levels, there are a few management practices which can be used.

Wheat blade with strip rust symptoms.

Stripe Rust Starting To Develop in Winter Wheat

Stripe rust was found in a few winter wheat fields scouted this week. The presence of a few plants with stripe rust indicates there is inoculum of this pathogen in the state.

A wheat head showing the start of the flowering period. This growth stage is the best time to apply a fungicide to manage Fusarium head blight.

Use Fusarium Head Blight Risk Prediction Tools for Better Disease Management

Winter wheat has reached the flowering growth stage, which is a time of high risk for Fusarium head blight. By using disease prediction tools correctly, a producer can protect wheat from infection by applying a timely fungicide when the tools show moderate to high risk.

Small group of cattle grazing near a sorghum field at sunset.

Prussic Acid Precautions

During periods of drought, it is important to aware of the factors that can be a concern during these conditions, specifically nitrates and prussic acid. It is important to take precautions when using feeds that could contain one or both compounds.

A wheat field that is bright yellow due to infection of Wheat streak mosaic virus.

Wheat Streak Mosaic of Wheat

Fact sheet about symptoms, disease cycle, risk factors and management of Wheat streak mosaic disease

Oat leaf with very low crown rust.

Oat Crown Rust Risk Low This Year

Oat fields recently scouted were found with very low levels of crown rust. This is primarily due to warm and dry weather conditions that we are currently experiencing.

Three soybean fields with yellowing issues due to potassium deficiency, iron deficiency chlorosis and soybean cyst nematode.

What Is Causing Soybeans to Yellow at This Time?

Recently scouted soybean fields were observed with yellowing plants, and one field was found to have plants dying prematurely. Learn some of the factors that may cause soybean plants to yellow at this time in the growing season.

Green soybeans with yellowing throughout.

Bacterial Blight Developing In Some Soybean Fields

Bacterial blight was found developing in a few soybean fields scouted the week of July 19. Leaf tattering is a common symptom of bacterial blight and happens when expanding bacterial blight lesions coalesce and form large brown patches.

Yellow wheat with grey colored wheat heads.

Sooty Mold: A Saprophytic Fungi Observed in Wheat

While out crop scouting, sooty mold was observed in some South Dakota wheat fields. Sooty mold is a saprophyte, which can be easily mistaken for a disease caused by plant pathogens.

Three bean leaf beetles. From Left: Brown beetle with black spots on a green leaf. Yellow beetle with black spots on a green leaf. Red beetle with black spots on a green leaf.

Monitor Soybean for Bean Leaf Beetle Activity

Some of the bean leaf beetles we are currently observing in South Dakota may make up the population of overwintering adults. While these adults are in soybean, they can cause significant amounts of defoliation to the leaves.