Welcome

The Plant Health Initiative was founded by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) with soybean check-off dollars to coordinate soybean production research on a regional level. The North Central region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Our goal is to better understand and manage soybean pests and diseases and make the latest information readily available to soybean producers.

Hot Topics

Fifth Edition of the Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide Available

December 3, 2008

The popular Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide, originally published by the SCN Coalition, was recently updated and reissued by the North Central Soybean Research Program. The information is based on decades of research on soybean management in SCN-infested fields.

SCN, a tiny plant-parasitic nematode, remains the #1 threat to soybean productivity in North America. Although the number of SCN in a field can be greatly reduced through proper management, it is impossible to completely eliminate SCN once it is established. Therefore you must choose appropriate management practices so that you can continue profitable soybean production.

If you think you don't have SCN, you should read this guide. If you know you have SCN, there may be more you can do to improve soybean productivity and profits. The recently updated, 5th edition of the Soybean Cyst Nematode Management Guide is now available to read or print online»

This soybean variety test is in a field with pressure from brown stem rot. Photo credit: Craig Grau, University of Wisconsin

Take Advantage of the Latest Soybean Performance Trials When Selecting Varieties for 2009

November 19, 2008

State extension soybean variety tests are one of your best sources of information on the performance of soybean varieties, including resistance to pests and diseases. The tests include the soybean varieties that seed companies feel have the best potential, plus popular entries from each university.

Results from the 2008 variety trials conducted by each of the twelve North Central land-grant universities have just been published and can be read online»
Read more about variety tests and variety selection»

Information on these pages is from the cooperative effort of researchers throughout the North Central states. Information from this site can be copied and distributed for educational use. Please credit the source with our name and URL: NCSRP Plant Health Initiative at www.planthealth.info. Please do not use copyrighted photos without permission.