Syngenta Thrive

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Don’t underestimate citrus leafminer. They may be small, but they can cause significant damage to citrus groves in key growing regions if not detected and managed early. They spread rapidly, with infestation rates reaching 90% within its first year of being observed in Florida in 1993.

Identify Citrus Leafminer Early

How do you know if you have a citrus leafminer infestation? Simply put, these pests don’t hide their trail. During the larval stage, citrus leafminers feed on the flush foliage of citrus leaves. As they grow, they create noticeable asymmetrical tunnels or “mines” along the leaf surface. Their distinctive tunneling makes them easy to identify compared to other common citrus pests.

Curled and distorted leaves caused by citrus leafminer damage.
Curled and distorted leaves caused by citrus leafminer can impact tree growth, especially in younger trees.

Leafminer damage causes leaves to curl and distort, which can affect tree growth. Younger trees are especially vulnerable, but even mature citrus trees can suffer if infestations get out of control. Over time, this damage weakens trees and reduces fruit quality, making it harder for growers to produce a healthy crop.

Prepare for Environmental Challenges

While citrus leafminer is not typically a primary threat, shifting environmental conditions like hurricanes in Florida and erratic weather patterns in California have opened the door for increased populations and infestations, testing the citrus industry’s resilience.

The increase in moisture and humidity provides an ideal environment for citrus leafminer. Once these tiny insects invade and damage groves, the trees become more vulnerable to diseases, like citrus canker. Effective management strategies can help growers mitigate this risk and reduce the overall impact on their crops.

Use Targeted Solutions for Citrus Leafminer

The good news? Citrus growers have options to keep this pest in check. Researchers have linked cooler temperatures with lower populations of citrus leafminer, making early spring the ideal time to come up with a management plan.

One of the best ways to manage citrus pests is to regularly scout trees for signs of damage. Using natural predators — like parasitic wasps or lacewings — can help keep populations down. In more serious cases, targeted insecticide sprays may be needed.

Insecticides with multiple active ingredients and strong residual control are ideal. Minecto® Pro manages populations of citrus leafminer, Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and other damaging citrus insect pests. By combining the strength of two active ingredients into a convenient premix formulation, Minecto Pro offers extended residual control of multiple pests with overlapping occurrence windows.

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Farming is a risky business with many factors that are beyond growers’ control. Lex Kassel, a sixth-generation farmer from Emmetsburg, Iowa, knows this all too well. “The corn and soybean markets are so volatile, and that’s something that, as a farmer, I can only control so much,” he says. “The name of the game is mitigating risk and trying to make yourself more profitable.” That’s why Kassel decided to participate in the 2023 pilot year of the Cropwise™ Commodity Pro offer.

Cropwise Commodity Pro helps growers reduce the risk of a volatile market by providing up to 15 percent cash back in down markets. Enrollment is free to growers in the Midwest and South with the purchase of a qualifying Syngenta premium corn or soybean crop protection and/or seeds product. This offer aims to give growers confidence to focus on agronomics and crop yield potential instead of managing market risk.

Ryan Peterson, owner and President of R&M Brothers in Pocahontas County, Iowa, also participated in the pilot offer. “We decided to participate because it seemed like a really good tool that we could use to mitigate commodity risk in the latter part of the season,” he says.

Growers will be locked into the commodity price for corn and/or soy by late July based on their qualifying purchases. The locked-in price in July is compared to the late-season price come October to determine cash back amounts.

During the 2024 season:

  • Syngenta paid more than $1.5 million in cash back, with the average grower receiving around $6,000.
  • 250+ growers were enrolled in the Cropwise Commodity Pro offer, covering nearly 650,000 acres.

Kassel is glad he participated in the pilot year. “I really enjoyed the extra layer of protection and comfort when it came to making commodity decisions. It’s something you don’t need when times are good, but when times aren’t so good, it helps to have as many people as you can in your corner looking out for you.”

To learn more about the offer and inquire about enrolling, talk to your Syngenta representative.

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According to the Crop Protection Network, tar spot was the leading cause of corn yield loss in 2024. This disease has dominated recent headlines — and for good reason — but it’s not the only disease threat to watch for. Southern rust, northern corn leaf blight and frogeye leaf spot each caused millions of lost bushels in 2024. To protect your soybean and corn crops, know the signs to look for because destructive diseases could be lurking in the canopy.

An illustration of healthy soybean reads "SOYBEAN SCOUTING GUIDE"

Septoria Brown Spot starts with small brown spots and causes yellowing and dropped leaves.
A close up photo shows soybean plants with yellowing and dropped leaves caused by Septoria Brown Spot.

Septoria brown spot (Septoria glycines) starts with small, brown spots on lower leaves approximately two to three weeks after planting. These spots expand and merge together, ultimately reducing the plant’s capacity for photosynthesis. Without intervention, leaves will turn yellow and drop off due to the lack of chlorophyl.

“Septoria brown spot has become more aggressive,” Tyler Harp, technical product lead for fungicides at Syngenta, says. “It used to stay at the very bottom of the canopy where it wasn’t considered yield-limiting, but that’s changed in recent years.”

Harp says some growers attribute the change to new soybean varieties while others think the disease evolved into a more aggressive pathogen. Either way, Septoria brown spot can now move all the way to the top of the plant and potentially defoliate the entire crop. Active disease in early to mid-pod fill is the most likely period for brown spot to result in yield loss, so scouting the crop’s lower leaves and treating early are key to minimizing its impact in the field.

A close up photo shows tiny purple spots on soybean leaves caused by Cercospora Leaf Blight.
Cercospora Leaf Blight causes tiny purple spots that work down from the top of the plant.

Cercospora Leaf Blight (Cercospora kikuchii) begins at the top of the plant and works its way down, making scouting theoretically a little easier. Unfortunately, its tiny, pale purple spots are tough to see early on. Appearance of the disease typically coincides with seed set, and as the lesions expand and coalesce, leaves turn darker purple, bronze or red and develop a leathery texture, sometimes confused with abiotic stress such as sunburn.

Planting resistant seed, choosing later-maturing varieties and applying fungicides with different modes of action can help reduce damage or yield loss. Under severe disease pressure, losses of up to 30 percent have been reported.

A close up photo shows a tan lesions with dark margins caused by frogeye leaf spot.
Tan frogeye leaf spot lesions typically have dark purple or brown margins.

Frogeye Leaf Spot (FLS) (Cercospora sojina) presents as small light brown or tan lesions surrounded by a darker margin, typically purple or brown. When first reported in the U.S. in 1924, it was primarily an issue in the southern states but is now well entrenched in the Midwest.

“Frogeye is not the most common disease, but it’s probably the most yield limiting and the most destructive where it occurs,” Harp says.

Blake Miller, Syngenta ASR in west central Illinois, calls FLS his region’s number one soybean disease threat, and says scouting for the disease should focus on the expanding leaves. “It affects the newest leaves because they’re easier for the spores to penetrate,” he says.

Genetic resistance to FLS is the best option for managing the disease, Miller says. He advises using soybean varieties with the Rcs3 gene, which is shown to be resistant to the different strains of FLS. In conjunction with seed varieties, Miller recommends an R3 to R4 fungicide application to protect grain fill.

An illustration of health corn reads "CORN SCOUTING GUIDE"

Clusters of orange pustules caused by Southern rust on a corn leaf.
Southern rust presents as orange pustules that release spores and spread the disease.

Southern Rust (Puccinia polysora) spreads differently than other corn diseases. The inoculum for Southern rust doesn’t live in the field; its spores are carried on the wind from warmer climates and deposited on crops as far north as Canada. The fungus needs both a wet leaf surface and warm temperatures to catalyze infection, and as little as six hours of dew can be enough for it to take hold. Southern rust appears as orange pustules on leaves, which release spores to spread the disease. The infection cycle is short but repetitive, so the infection can quickly reach epidemic levels.

Aaron Kromann, ASR in South Dakota, says his state usually sees minimal levels of Southern rust; however, last year the infection came earlier and was reported in roughly a third of the state.

“It takes a lot of wind and a lot of weather patterns to get it up here, and it’s usually not super impactful just because it sets in relatively late,” Kromann says. “But last year, the southern half of North Dakota saw some Southern rust as well, which is very atypical.”

Management practices for Southern rust include planting resistant hybrids and utilizing early application fungicides when the first pustules appear.

Corn leaves with cigar-shaped lesions containing black and gray spores caused by Northern corn leaf blight.
Northern corn leaf blight causes long lesions with dark spores.

Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) (Exserohilum turcicum) presents as cigar-shaped lesions of varying length on leaves, which may also contain visible black or gray spores. The disease reduces plants’ photosynthesis, compromising their ability to produce kernels.

Contamination with inoculum in the field through wind, rain-splash, heavy dew or overhead irrigation can kick off the infection; continued moisture and 60- to 80-degree temperatures drives the spread.

Lesions on or above the ear leaf two weeks on either side of tassel signals potential yield loss of up to 30 percent in hybrid corn, and greater loss potential in specialty varieties. Loss will usually be lower if lesions don’t appear on the upper leaves until late in the season.

Management practices for NCLB include selecting moderate-resistance hybrids to delay progression enough to protect yield, managing residue to reduce field inoculum and a one-year rotation away from corn followed by tillage to protect the following year’s crop. “Generally, rotation’s going to be your friend,” Kromann says. “Waiting a year, you’ll likely get some depletion of that residue in the soil.”

Corn leaves with long, rectangular gray lesions caused by gray leaf spot.
Gray leaf spot causes gray, rectangular lesions.

Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) (Cercospora zeae-maydis) Is one of the most widespread and tenacious fungal diseases in corn. It attacks the plant’s leaves, first showing up as small brown spots with yellow halos. Lesions take on a rectangular shape as they grow and turn gray as the disease develops, destroying photosynthetic leaf surface.

GLS is typically first seen on bottom leaves after inoculum has splashed up onto new plants and thrives in temperatures in the mid-70s to high 80s with humidity at or exceeding 90 percent.

Managing residue and planting resistant hybrids is recommended, especially in corn-on-corn operations.

“There are hybrids that are tolerant of gray leaf spot,” Harp says. “You might get a bit of a yield penalty as a result, but the penalty will outweigh the disease issues if you have a real susceptible area.”

For more information on recognizing and defending against corn and soybean diseases, visit BoostYourBushels.com.

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Agriculture contributes more than $220 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), but farming families comprise only 2% of the American population. They contend with volatile markets, regulations and environments to keep food on the table for the 98% who, on average, are at least three generations removed from agriculture.

The future of agriculture depends on united advocacy from individuals along with grower and trade organizations. Keeping agricultural issues at the forefront of policy negotiations and conversations in homes across the country requires farmers to become savvy storytellers and strong leaders in addition to their roles as entrepreneurs, educators and environmental stewards.

The Leadership At Its Best (LAIB) conference, organized by Syngenta, empowers agricultural leaders to represent the industry in Washington, D.C. and at home. LAIB celebrated its 40th year of advocacy education in 2025. Fifty representatives from 12 grower and trade associations learned skills like networking, media training and action advocacy leading up to change-making conversations on Capitol Hill. They were nominated by organizations like the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association and American Agri-Women.

Becoming Strong Storytellers

This year’s LAIB attendees arrived in D.C. with stories to tell. They have intimate knowledge of the issues facing their operations and their nominating associations recognize them as leaders. The goal of LAIB isn’t to teach attendees what to say; it’s to equip them with the skills to share their experiences and advocate for change.

“It’s important that we tell our story and teach others to tell their stories to people that don’t know much about agriculture,” says Macie O’Shaughnessy, industry relations manager at Syngenta. “We challenge everybody to be vulnerable, work on their weaknesses, and share their strengths. We enable them to tell their stories and be fierce advocates.”

The conference kicks off with a day of intensive networking to encourage attendees to share their experiences outside their usual circles.

“The program has been phenomenal,” says Bill Parks, a Mississippi grower representing the American Farm Bureau Federation. “In a rural area like where I’m from, you can feel alone. Here, you talk to and learn from others like you, and it builds confidence.”

These conversations also help growers see the bigger picture of what’s happening on farms across the country. It’s critical that attendees examine issues from different perspectives and combine their voices to combat the challenges facing agriculture.

Key issues include access to technology, operational flexibility within restrictions, and regulatory challenges. While not unique to one region, crop or sector, representatives on the Hill may still be unfamiliar with them.

“Everyone here operates differently, but we agree on many key issues,” says Kole Pederson, a representative of the National Agricultural Aviation Association. “Being able to share perspectives here is so helpful. It allows subsectors of the industry to work better together.”

The Road to Capitol Hill

With years of experience and expertise, the folks at Syngenta engage their relationships to further collaboration. “We can advocate for all the details when we have multiple groups working together,” says O’Shaughnessy. “Our connections and networks elevate us.”

After a full day of building confidence and hearing from other voices in agriculture, the LAIB cohort attends sessions led by media and storytelling experts.

The first was led by Johnna Miller, senior director of media and advocacy training for the American Farm Bureau Federation. She shared best practices for working with the media, the ins and outs of soundbites, and how to make sure the most important parts of their messages make it on camera. Next, attendees learned from Aaron Putze, author, public speaker, and chief officer of brand management and engagement for the Iowa Soybean Association, about finding memorable ways to share their personal stories with legislators.

“I learned that representatives want to hear about our experiences, which helps them continue to make changes in the country,” says Janie Cornelius, sales support lead at Cornelius Seed representing the Independent Professional Seed Association. “In D.C., they don’t know what we’re experiencing in agriculture. Our stories can have huge impacts on farmers across the nation.”

Fortunately, attendees felt well-prepared to tell those stories after the week’s programming. “The session with Mr. Putze really helped me get my message together for my Capitol Hill meetings. He helped us dig deep into our own brains to pull those ideas out,” says Elizabeth Spruell, an Alabama grower representing American Agri-Women. “Now, I’m more capable of stepping in front of the camera and answering hard questions. At the same time, I’m representing and advocating for the industry I love so dearly.”

Beyond the Capitol

What’s next for the future of agriculture advocacy? All attendees leave LAIB with newfound confidence, storytelling skills, media savvy and lobbying experience. Many also have successful conversations with legislators under their belts.

“We send everybody home with a new network and many action opportunities,” says O’Shaughnessy. “One of the most powerful pieces is building that network between associations. These ag representatives are all already leaders, and leaders are always learning.”

Leaders are always teaching, too. The impact of the conference ripples to the nominating organizations and beyond. “I’m excited,” Janie Cornelius says. “Not only am I better able to tell my story, but I’m more prepared to step into a mentorship role. The skills I’ve gained here are going to help me develop others and grow myself.”

Though the most impactful lessons learned from LAIB varies between attendees, one thing is certain. This conference is only the jumping-off point.

“Leadership At Its Best opened my eyes to a larger network and agriculture across the country,” says Spruell. “Networking with individuals on their own journey through leadership helps me frame my own pathway and I’m excited for what’s next.”

For many, LAIB is a great reminder of the importance of getting involved with organizations. The time is right, Spruell says. “Farmers are the 2% growing food for the 98%. Our voice is small, but we can unify, arm-in-arm, to get the message across for our food and fiber security.”

And it’s easier than they would’ve thought. “Your voice matters,” says Parks. “I know now it’s as simple as finding your local organization or dropping by the Hill. Take it from a small-town farmer like me — You can make a difference, and that’s the honest truth.”

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As a potato grower, you’re likely no stranger to Colorado potato beetle (CPB). These small, striped pests have a reputation for wreaking havoc on potato fields across the country.

CPB consumes large portions of young leaf tissue. Without sufficient leaf canopy, photosynthesis slows down, leading to the plants drying out, wilting and ultimately losing their leaves. As beetles mature, the damage worsens, making it increasingly difficult for growers to save their crops.

If CPB gets ahead of you, they won’t just nibble at your plants — they’ll attack your bottom line. The good news is you can protect your crops with an effective three-step pest management plan.

Identify Colorado Potato Beetles

Adult CPB have distinct features that make them easy to differentiate from other insects. They’re oval-shaped, about 3/8 inch (10 mm) long, with a yellow-orangish body and 10 black stripes running down their wings. The larvae are smooth, humpbacked and reddish, reaching up to half an inch in length with two rows of black spots along each side.

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Larvae feed on potato leaf tissue.
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Feeding damage worsens as CPB mature.

Scout for Colorado Potato Beetles

Scouting is one of the best ways to stay ahead of a potential CPB infestation. Here’s how you can monitor your fields effectively:

  1. Scout early: CPB emerges from the soil when spring temperatures reach above 50 degrees Fahrenheit in early May. You should begin scouting for adult beetles before the seed is even planted.
  2. Watch for larvae: Inspect the undersides of leaves for clusters of yellow eggs. Larvae hatch within 4-14 days and immediately feed on plant leaves. Leaf damage initially appears as small holes, about 1/8” wide.
  3. Create an action plan: The moment you begin to see red, spotted larvae crawling around your leaves, that’s your cue to act before they take over.

Manage CPB and Combat Insecticide Resistance

CPB has built up resistance to over 50 different insecticide chemistries. Kiran Shetty, Ph.D., Syngenta technical development lead for potatoes, encourages growers to try a range of approaches to better control CPB and combat resistance.

  1. Manage field by field: Tailor your management plan to the location, crop and insect history of the field.
  2. Rotate chemistries: Overuse of insecticides can increase the tolerance levels of pests. Use one neonicotinoid seed treatment or soil application per season.
  3. Rotate crops: Growers should implement crop rotation between planting seasons, which can significantly reduce outbreak rates and maintain the effectiveness of pest control strategies.
  4. Make an action plan: Create a season-long management plan that uses complementary seed treatments and foliar insecticide applications.
  5. Use high-quality insecticides: Quality insecticides like Minecto® Pro are highly effective foliar insecticides that control CPB.

Colorado potato beetles aren’t going away anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them take over your operation. By combining crop rotation, tailored field management and chemical rotation, growers can minimize CPB pressure and protect their yields.

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Winds bring more than fresh air and rain to corn and soybean fields; they can carry pests and pathogens into new areas. Most new-to-a-region diseases have been creeping into fields with the help of dust, spores or insects moving through the air.

Learning about new agronomic challenges before they hit your fields helps you know what to do once they show up. Regular scouting and a predetermined management plan will help you fight unwelcome emerging pathogens and protect your yield potential.

Corn Threats

Tar Spot

Tar spot has been moving across the Midwest for several years. While proactively managing it has become standard practice for Indiana farmers, those in western Iowa and Nebraska are just starting to see it.

“Once tar spot arrives, it overwinters on crop residue and infects corn in cool temperatures between 60- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit, high humidity and prolonged leaf wetness,” says Dean Grossnickle, Syngenta technical development lead based in central Iowa. “It usually isn’t noticeable until after tasseling when scouting is uncomfortable.”

Tar spot, named for the small black spots on leaves that don’t rub off, can significantly reduce yield. What should be done when it moves in?

“Take a deep breath — it is manageable,” says Grossnickle. “We’ve learned that a proactive treatment with Miravis Neo or Trivapro fungicides at the tasseling stage provides protection against tar spot through most of the grain fill period.”

He adds that an overlapping residual fungicide application two or three weeks later can sometimes increase potential yield under heavy pressure, though the results aren’t consistent. Burying crop residue can help, but exposed spores can easily blow in from neighboring fields.

Corn Stunt Disease and Corn Leafhopper

Corn stunt disease is a bacterial disease moving north from Texas and Oklahoma into Kansas and Nebraska. As the name suggests, it stunts plant growth and ear development. Solutions have yet to be discovered.

Corn leafhopper, an insect native to Central America, spreads bacteria as it feeds on corn plants. They reproduce quickly, with multiple generations each season, according to Oklahoma State University Extension. Bugs can travel several miles during their lifespan, with females laying eggs on corn leaves. Entomologists are still learning where they overwinter.

“As with other bacterial diseases like Stewart’s wilt, if you find a resistant hybrid, plant it,” Grossnickle recommends. “Insecticides can control corn leafhoppers, but treatment thresholds will be different for disease management compared to leaf damage.”

Planting corn early, before insect populations increase, may also reduce disease impact.

Unexpected Visitors Surprise Corn Growers

Weather can bring unexpected pathogens to a region, says Dalton Webster, Syngenta ASR for eastern Iowa. In 2024, an early hurricane blew Southern rust as far north as Iowa and Wisconsin in late July and early August, which unfortunately gave the pathogen time to establish and cut corn yields.

“Southern rust won’t overwinter, but 2024 is an example of the need to watch for unexpected problems,” Webster says. “Fortunately, both Trivapro and Miravis Neo protect against rust and a variety of other diseases, so solutions for unexpected issues often align with strategies to manage tar spot, gray leaf spot and other diseases.”

Soybean Threats

Red Crown Rot

In soybean fields, the soilborne pathogen causing red crown rot (RCR) appears to be spreading throughout Illinois. It has also been confirmed in a few Indiana and Missouri counties, and surrounding states are on the lookout. Initial symptoms can easily be mistaken for sudden death syndrome (SDS).

“Soilborne pathogens can be spread easily by wind and equipment,” Webster says.

Crop rotation and planting soybeans early may help manage RCR, but early planting increases the risk for SDS. Saltro® fungicide seed treatment helps suppress RCR, and it can help protect early planted soybeans against SDS as well.

Target Spot

Grossnickle notes that target spot, usually found in the south, appears to be a growing issue in the Midwest.

“As soybean traits and genetics have changed, it seems we’ve selected for varieties with more susceptibility to target spot,” he says.

It can attack any part of a soybean plant, thriving in 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures with frequent rainfall or irrigation, especially in continuous soybeans. Residue management and practices that promote drier leaves, like wide rows, can reduce risk. Both Miravis® Neo and Miravis Top soybean fungicides also help manage target spot.

Revisiting Soybean Cyst Nematode

Though not considered an emerging pathogen, Webster notes a renewed industry focus on soybean cyst nematode (SCN).

“As growers put more focus on raising soybeans, aiming for yields of 90 to 100 bushels, SCN is getting more attention as a yield-limiting factor,” he says.

Seed companies are developing more varieties with Peking genetics, the less common source for SCN resistance. This allows farmers to rotate both crops and resistance sources to reduce SCN pressure. At the same time, crop protection companies have been developing nematicide seed treatment options.

“We know Saltro can help protect soybeans in combination with resistant genetics,” Webster says. “ADEPIDYN technology, the active ingredient in Saltro, affects the same pathway in a fungus or a nematode, shutting down energy production at the cellular level.”

Regardless of the unwelcome pathogens — both expected and unexpected — that move into your neighborhood this season, connect with your local Extension, Syngenta reps, and neighbors to share the knowledge and tools to protect your crop yield.

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Over the last 45 years, the number of reported resistant biotypes has increased rapidly worldwide, and according to The Center for Integrated Pest Management’s Pesticide Stewardship, resistance to one or more of 25 herbicide families has been observed in more than 65 weed species in the United States.

Grass weeds pose a particular challenge to cereal growers. In addition to directly competing with the crop for water, light and nutrients, grass weeds can cause lodging and seeds can contaminate harvested grain. Ten wild oat plants per square foot can reduce barley yield by 18% and wheat yield by more than 24%.

Tumbleweeds like Russian thistle and kochia also pose serious threats to yield. Spring cereals are particularly susceptible to infestation — Russian thistle can cause yield losses of up to 50% in heavy infestations. Kochia can cause near-complete crop failure and mean losses in sorghum have been reported at 62%. Increasing incidence of herbicide resistance can make controlling weeds more challenging and increase the risk of losses.

Regional Choices for Grass Weed Control in Cereals

Cereal growers have an ally in their fight against resistance. Axial® brand herbicides are high-performing chemistries that deliver consistent results, with two options to target grass weeds: Axial Bold and Axial Star.

Both Axial Bold and Axial Star are postemergence herbicides that offer broad control of grass weeds, including tough wild oat and foxtail populations as well as kochia. U.S. growers have shown their enthusiasm for Axial brands from Minnesota to Washington, with North Dakota leading in converts to both Axial brand products.

Axial Bold contains two active ingredients for control of pervasive grass weeds including barnyardgrass, Italian ryegrass and wild oat. Axial Bold is optimized for tank mixing, making it compatible with broadleaf herbicides for more efficient knockdown of mixed weeds and less grass antagonism.

Axial Star provides industry-leading control of mixed-grass and kochia, with tank-mix flexibility to tailor weed control solutions to each field’s specific needs.

Tank-Mix Partners Enhance Cereal Weed Control

Talinor® herbicide is as an ideal tank-mix partner with Axial brand products because it controls more than 45 tough broadleaf weeds in wheat and barley including kochia, mayweed, chamomile and Russian thistle, as well as those resistant to ALS-inhibitor, synthetic auxin and glyphosate herbicides. With two active ingredients and two effective modes of action, Talinor knocks down weeds the first time, and offers a wide application window, from the two-leaf to pre-boot stage of the crop.

Service and support for the Axial brands and Talinor are available. To provide direct access to local in-field support, including free resistance testing, find your rep at SyngentaUS.com/Rep-Finder.

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The right practices can help you get the most out of your herbicide application. We’re illustrating the “5 Rs” for weed control to help maximize herbicide efficacy.

An infographic showing details of the "5 Rs" of herbicides: the Right residual, the Right rate, the Right time, the Right nozzles, and the Right droplet size. There is an image and a description of each explaining the impact on herbicide applications and getting the most out of herbicides.

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Know which early-season diseases to look for and create a careful scouting plan to confirm them and assist you in managing them long-term. Red crown rot (RCR) is becoming a more common early-season soybean disease that is tough to diagnose because it’s often mistaken for other diseases, like Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot. Learning how to tell if you’re dealing with RCR will help you manage your crop and set you up to preserve your soybean yield.

Understanding Red Crown Rot

Caused by the soilborne fungus Calonectria ilicicola, RCR historically was a Southern disease threat, but it was first confirmed in Illinois in 2018. Since then, it has been found  in more counties in southern Illinois, western Kentucky, southern Indiana and a few counties in Missouri.

One of the most distinctive signs of an RCR infection is brick red fruiting structures at the base of the soybean plant; but unfortunately these reproductive structures are not always visible. RCR also causes yellow-speckled spots on leaves in the canopy. Because it’s a soilborne disease, farm machinery and tillage can move the disease from field to field if the machinery isn’t properly cleaned in between uses. The pathogen can easily move from an infected field to an uninfected field.

A comparison photo showing the main symptoms of Red Crown Rot. On the left is a close up of the red fruiting structures at the base of the plant; on the right is the yellow spotting of the canopy that infected plants see.

“Red crown rot devastates yield by destroying the root system until there’s just nothing left,” says Dale Ireland, Ph.D., Syngenta technical product lead. “RCR absolutely destroys the root system’s ability to uptake moisture and nutrients. There’s next to no yield in those early infected plants.”

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Red crown rot absolutely destroys the root system’s ability to uptake moisture and nutrients. There’s next to no yield in early infected plants.

Dale Ireland Technical Product Lead at Syngenta

The symptoms of RCR often resemble those of SDS, which is caused by a different pathogen – Fusarium virguliforme. “We believe that RCR may be more widespread than what people realize, since its presentation of yellow-speckled spots on the leaves are currently primarily associated with SDS,” says Ireland.

Another similarity between SDS and RCR is that soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) can exacerbate infections from both diseases. SCN also destroys the crop’s root system, opening the root system and creating more opportunity for either RCR or SDS to infect the roots.

If you suspect RCR, collect a sample and send to your local state Land Grant University diagnostic lab for analysis/confirmation. Don’t play plant pathologist — trust the experts at your local university.

Preserving Soybean Yield

No rescue treatments for RCR exist, but prevention and containment can help. If you suspect RCR, clean equipment thoroughly between fields or work areas with known infections last to prevent spreading the pathogen. Red crown rot thrives in temperatures between 77-86 degrees Fahrenheit so planting earlier can help prevent early infections. Another option is rotating to a non-host crop like corn and/or wheat for two years to break the RCR cycle.

One of the most effective ways to combat an RCR infection is using a seed treatment like Saltro® fungicide seed treatment, powered by ADEPIDYN® technology. Saltro has a 2(ee) label for the suppression of RCR in seven states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.

“Saltro has direct activity against Calonectria. It’ll effectively reduce the growth of Calonectria on the developing soybean root so the plant can potentially yield more,” says Ireland.

Syngenta supports a FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendation for Saltro for suppression of Red Crown Rot in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. Please see the Section 2(ee) recommendation to confirm that the recommendation is applicable in your state. The Section 2(ee) recommendation for Saltro should be in the possession of the user at the time of application.

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Ben Price, AFM, Farmers National Company, is the 2024 Professional Farm Manager of the Year after standing out as an innovative and dedicated leader in the farm management profession. As Clayton Becker, president of Farmers National Company, noted, “There is just no one more committed to providing the value and solutions our landowners know and expect.”

Price developed a passion for agriculture while growing up on his family’s sixth-generation farm – one of the oldest in Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University, equipping him with a solid foundation in business, economics and agricultural sciences. Price joined Farmers National Company in 2008 where, through the help of great mentors, he has continued to expand his deep knowledge of farm management.

“I pair my clients with available resources to improve their farms and protect it for future generations,” Price says. “I care about them and their farm.”

Price understands first-hand that every farm represents a legacy. Through hard work and skill, he earns the trust of his clients and helps them protect their farms for future generations.

Watch the video below to learn about Ben’s award-winning success story.