Soybean sentinel plot update
Editor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team
Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is
included
This
summer the weather in Michigan, especially June, could be described as a
“cornucopia” of climatic changes. Above all the changes, we experienced
unseasonably rainy days and chilly nights, which have resulted in a
delayed development of many plants, vegetables, and crops, including
soybeans. As the month of July rolled in, we finally had warmer
temperatures. In spite of Michigan’s weather roller coaster, many plant
pathogens continued their life cycle and made it into our crops, and
soybean was no exception. As of August 5, we have received samples of
soybean leaves from Michigan’s sentinel plots, and a number of samples
are being processed and diagnosed, but no soybean rust
has been detected. Septoria brown spot, bacterial blight and bacterial
pustule make up the majority of diseases diagnosed from sentinel plot
samples so far.