By Mike Staton, Michigan State University Extension
Michigan soybean growers are encouraged to take a survey on white mold in 2014 to help researchers understand why some fields escaped the disease and others did not.
The cool, wet weather that occurred during the 2014 growing season created ideal conditions for white mold development in soybeans. While the disease affected soybeans throughout Michigan, the Saginaw Valley and Thumb region were the hardest hit. Even in these areas of the state, the level of disease and subsequent yield loss varied from field to field. In some cases, severely infested fields yielded less than 10 bushels per acre and other nearby fields experienced less disease pressure and produced decent yields.
The question is, why were some soybean fields heavily infested while others were not in 2014? Michigan soybean producers will have a chance to help answer this question. A 2014 white mold survey was developed and published in the Michigan Soybean News Spring 2015 Issue on page 13. The survey asks producers to identify one heavily infested field and one lightly infested field that have similar soil types and are relatively close to one another.
You can download a printable version of the 2014 white mold survey. Once the specific fields are identified, you can provide the requested information for each field. Completed surveys can be mailed to Mike Staton, 3255 122nd Ave., Suite 103, Allegan, MI 49010 or faxed to 269-673-7005. Completed surveys can also be scanned and emailed to staton@msu.edu.
If enough surveys are returned, our understanding about why some fields escaped the disease and why others did not will be increased. This information may be helpful in developing comprehensive white mold management plans in the future.
Please consider taking the time to complete and return the survey. All individual responses will be kept confidential and will be used advance our understanding of this complicated disease.
This article was produced by the SMaRT project (Soybean Management and Research Technology). The SMaRT project was developed to help Michigan producers increase soybean yields and farm profitability. The SMaRT project is a partnership between Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee.