The Situation:

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) causes approximately $1.5 billion dollars in losses to the U.S. soybean crop annually. Losses in Kentucky continue to climb as the nematode adapts to management tools (such as genetic resistance). The situation is too large and complex for one organization to address alone.

Extension Response

Dr. Carl Bradley co-leads a national public-private partnership whose mission is to address the SCN crisis, known as ‘The SCN Coalition’. The SCN Coalition includes dozens of universities, companies, and soybean checkoff organizations. The SCN Coalition developed a national media campaign with the objectives of increasing awareness and active management of the nematode among soybean growers. Between 2018 and 2022, outputs included (but were not limited too):

• 80+ million potential impressions in the ag media
• 13-20% total share of online discussion of SCN 
• 2.7 million views of ‘Let’s Talk Todes’ video series

1. 7+ million potential impressions in social media

Impacts

The Impacts of the SCN Coalition were measured by conducting surveys of approximately 1,000 soybean growers in 17 states in 2015 and 2020.

SCN Coalition message recall among growers:

• 76% recalled “rotate to non-host crop”
• 66% recalled “consider a nematode-protectant seed treatment”
• 65% recalled “rotate resistant varieties”
• 55% recalled “actively manage SCN”

Soybean growers reported statistically significant increases (>5%) in multiple management practices from 2015 to 2020: 

• 18% increase: using a nematode-protectant seed treatment
• 10% increase: rotating sources of genetic resistance to SCN
• 7% increase: planting SCN resistant soybeans
• 6% increase: rotating to non-host crops

Economic Impact:

Surveyed growers reported capturing an additional 5.1 bushels per acre by managing SCN, adding $48.45 per acre to their bottom line (based on the average price of soybeans of $9.50 during the time the 2020 survey was conducted). Depending on the tool(s) growers use, 6% to 18% more are actively managing SCN than in 2015. That’s tens of thousands of growers, millions of acres and hundreds of millions of dollars – and increasing.

For more information:

www.theSCNCoalition.com