Even with BASF’s new Nemasphere soybean technology still targeted for a future launch, company officials say growers should already be taking steps to understand how much soybean cyst nematode may be costing them in today’s fields.
Justin Moritz, BASF trait technology specialist, says the most important first step is simple: know your number.
Moritz says that it starts with pulling SCN egg counts, but he stresses farmers should go further than just the nematode sample itself. He also recommends gathering soil pH and soil type from the same sampling area so those numbers can be run through the SCN Coalition’s online calculator.
That combination gives growers a much clearer picture of what SCN pressure may really mean in terms of yield drag on their farms.
He says older university guides for interpreting egg counts were built when native SCN traits were still delivering much stronger control than they are today. As those older trait packages lose effectiveness, the same egg count can now represent a much larger production risk than it once did.
Moritz says growers should also start talking with seed suppliers now about whether future soybean varieties they already trust may eventually include Nemasphere as an option.
That early conversation can help farmers begin matching known SCN pressure in their fields with future seed decisions, rather than waiting until the product is fully commercialized.
For farmers wanting to dig deeper today, Moritz points to the SCN Coalition as a strong educational resource for understanding soybean cyst nematode pressure and potential losses.
He says BASF’s Nemasphere.com website is also available for growers who want product-specific updates and launch information as the company moves closer to commercialization.
The bigger takeaway, Moritz says, is that soybean cyst nematode management starts long before a new trait package hits the market. Testing fields now and understanding the real impact of SCN can help growers protect more yield today while preparing for future tools tomorrow.
