Cropping Issues in Northwest Minnesota

This article was written by Angie Peltier, UMN Extension educator-crops. Figure. Soybean roots, with yellow arrows pointing to swollen female SCN and the white  arrow to a  much larger nitrogen fixing nodule.  Photo: Angie Peltier Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a microscopic worm that is attracted to and infests soybean roots where it uses for its own growth and development the water and sugars that the soybean plant takes up to develop leaves, flowers, pods and beans (Figure). Capable of causing significant yield loss without alerting a producer of its presence, SCN caused an estimated $7.32 million in lost yield in 2023 in Minnesota (Crop Protection Network, 2024), making it the top yield-limiting pathogen of soybean in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest. One of the most sickening feelings is to visit a field to assist a farmer or crop consultant with diagnosing a soybean production issue only to have to break the news to the unsuspect...

This article was written by Angie Peltier. The 2024 growing season couldn't have been any more ideal for sudden death syndrome (SDS) symptoms to appear in soybeans during reproductive growth stages, provided your field was infested with Fusarium virguliforme , the fungus that causes SDS. If you encounter soybeans in northwest Minnesota, please send me an email (apeltier@umn.edu) or give me a call {(218) 281-8692} as I would like to come and check out your field and collect isolates for further study. Wet weather this spring lead some to 'mud in' their soybeans, likely lead to both side wall and general compaction and wet weather after planting all favor infection by F. virguliforme. Infection can take place just as soon as the radicle breaks through the seed coat.  While SDS can cause root rot, it is most often much later in the growing season that the most conspicuous symptoms of SDS become evident. While the fungus remains below ground, plenty of rain during the reproduct...

T his article was written by Angie Peltier, UMN Extension crops educator. In recent days I have had the chance to drive around the region to see what there is to see in soybeans. In the small blessings department, it looks as if recent rains and the fungal pathogens that they favor, natural enemies of the soybean aphid and/or shortening daylength and declining food quality of soybeans has resulted in soybean aphid populations dropping far below treatment thresholds. If one does find a soybean population at treatment threshold (an average of 250 aphids per plant, more than 80% of plants infested, populations increasing), double check soybean growth stage by opening up and taking a look at the seeds in the pods at the top four leaf axils. If the seeds within the pods are nearly filling the seed cavity, the crop is approaching the full seed or R6 growth stage and will soon begin losing leaves, pods will begin to reach a mature color and seeds dry down. It is the rare situation (very h...

This article was written by Angie Peltier and Heather DuFault, UMN Extension educators. Hail event on June 28 Last Friday there was a significant hail event that occurred throughout a large swath of Norman County running west to east and parts of western Mahnomen County. The Grand Forks National Weather Service office received pictures of nickel to quarter-sized hail piled high and some reports of golf ball-sized hail. The effect of all of this hail on the crops that folks struggled so mightily to plant this spring was considerable ( Figures 1 & 2 ).  Figure 1. A corn field as viewed from the road in Norman County after the June 28th hail event (Photo: Heather DuFault). Figure 2. Soybeans in Norman County injured by the June 28, 2024 hail storm (Photo: Heather DuFault). Corn For corn that had reached the V6 of sixth leaf growth stage, the growing point would have been above ground and subject to injury from hail. After giving the crop a couple of days, now would be the ti...