Now is the time to scout for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) says Greg Tylka, professor of plant pathology at Iowa State University. Tylka says late July and early August are when some symptoms of SCN can be detected. Although SCN does not have many visual signs, he says, "yellowing of the soybean plants at this time of the season is most often associated with SCN. Another symptom often associated with the pest is early maturation in areas with high SCN population densities."

The Plant Health Initiative (PHI) web site is designed to help growers with their SCN scouting. The over-abundant SCN still costs soybean producers nearly $1 billion a year. That is why PHI focuses on how to sample soil to determine the level of SCN infestation in a field. It also provides current management recommendations, including a list of high-yielding SCN resistant varieties. PHI was founded by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), and its web site, www.planthealth.info, was created as an information resource for soybean producers. Producers can go to the web site to find out how to diagnose symptoms of their own soybeans, view an online photo gallery of symptoms, and find information about where to send samples.