Damon L. Smith

Why Documented Risk Factors Should Guide Soybean Fungicide Seed Treatment Decisions! @Tatianesevero16 @badgercropdoc @PSU_PlantEpidem collab @WISoyCheckoff #NCSRP @UnitedSoy funded badgercropnetwork.com/why-documented…

Collaborative work with @datascience_uw !

Weather-based forecasting and risk assessments for crop diseases at cropprotectionnetwork.org/crop-disease-f…. Bookmark the Crop Risk Tool for later this season and get predictions for tar spot, gray leaf spot, white mold, frogeye leaf spot, and wheat scab. From Extension. @badgercropdoc @BisonBeanDoc @baldpathologist @MandyBish1 @Jgonzacu @MartinChilvers1 @hoperbecton @alabamaED @DTelenko @ppp_trey @dsmuelle @DylanMangel @travisfaske @NCLegumeLady @Ag_PMT #corn #soybean #wheat #grow26

“Seedling diseases are more prevalent in no-till or reduced tillage systems, where soils typically warm more slowly in the spring and retain more moisture... Fungicide seed treatments vary in efficacy, and products that control diseases caused by Globisporangium, Phytophthora, and Pythium...generally do not control...Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. Conversely, fungicides active against Fusarium and Rhizoctonia have little effect on oomycetes." From An Overview of Soybean Seedling Diseases at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/a… by @cropdoc08 @cropdisease @DylanMangel @TravisLegleiter @dsmuelle @MartinChilvers1 @ISU_IPM @AlbertTenuta @baldpathologist @MandyBish1 @MahDuffeck @travisfaske @ppp_trey @badgercropdoc @DTelenko +more #soybean #USSoy #plant26

Many pathogens cause corn seed decay and seedling blight. The first symptom may be an area of the field with poor or no stand. Decayed seeds are very soft and may be covered with fuzzy fungal growth; seeds can be difficult to find if badly rotted. Postemergence damping off appears as yellowing and wilting; seedlings soon collapse leaving only dead leaves above the soil. Nodal roots may show the same decay symptoms as seminal roots and the mesocotyl. If the nodal root system escapes decay, the plant will survive; it may be stunted or recover fully. Favored by cool, wet soils, these diseases are more common in low-lying or poorly drained areas or in fields planted too early in spring. Ask local Extension for more information. @alisonrISU @cropdoc08 @alabamaED @ppp_trey @travisfaske @DTelenko @MandyBish1 @tjcksn @MPlumblee @dsmuelle @YuanZeng3 @baldpathologist @bobkemerait @badgercropdoc @MartinChilvers1 @maddishires @NationalCorn @kscorn @MississippiCorn #plant26 #corn #agx #seeds #farming

The WSMB Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Testing Program is Back in 2026! @WISoyCheckoff @badgercropdoc badgercropnetwork.com/the-wsmb-free-…

Seed Treatments: Questions That Emerge When Plants Don't from Extension at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/s…. @MartinChilvers1 @DylanMangel @badgercropdoc @AlbertTenuta @cropdoc08 @dsmuelle @baldpathologist @MandyBish1 @MahDuffeck @travisfaske @maddishires @alabamaED @DTelenko @BisonBeanDoc +others @OhioSoybean @ILSoybean @FieldAdvisor @arkansassoybean @INSoybean @kysoybean #plant26 #agx #USSoy @UnitedSoy

“Chemical management strategies do not result in complete control of white mold and, therefore, should be considered only as one component of an integrated management program. Reduction of white mold incidence achieved by fungicides in university field trials has ranged from zero to approximately 60%.” From the updated publication An Overview of White Mold at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/a… by @badgercropdoc @cropdisease @MartinChilvers1 @travisfaske @DylanMangel @dsmuelle @ISU_IPM @BisonBeanDoc @cropdoc08 +more @AlbertTenuta @baldpathologist @MandyBish1 @MahDuffeck @maddishires @DTelenko #soybeans #USSoy

Leaf rust occurs across the U.S. and Canada and can cause severe yield loss in epidemic years. Leaf rust develops on lower leaves first and progresses up the plant. Each year, spores are blown north on wind currents from tropical areas. When conditions are favorable, the infection cycle will continually repeat and result in secondary infections. Host resistance is an important management tool. Fungicides are labeled for leaf rust. A fungicide decision should be influenced by varietal susceptibility, weather forecast, and yield potential. Fungicide should be applied preventively and target the flag leaf (FGS 8-9). See leaf rust fungicide efficacy ratings from Extension at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/f… @KelseyFAndersen @kstateextension @StrayerScherer @travisfaske @BorisCamiletti @DTelenko @cropdisease @ppp_trey @MartinChilvers1 @MandyBish1 @OSUwheatdisease @okstate_ag @baldpathologist @AlbertTenuta @maddishires @badgercropdoc @NDSUExtension @wheatgrowers @wheatsd @mnwheat @SaskWheat @IdahoWheat @coloradowheat @TexasWheat #wheat #fungicide #rust

The science behind the white mold fungicide ROI tool located @CropNetwork

Wheat Fungicide Efficacy Guide 2026. Published at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/f…. From Extension. @KelseyFAndersen @kstateextension @StrayerScherer @travisfaske @BorisCamiletti @DTelenko @cropdisease @ppp_trey @MartinChilvers1 @MandyBish1 @OSUwheatdisease @okstate_ag @baldpathologist @AlbertTenuta @maddishires @badgercropdoc @NDSUExtension @USWBSI @wheatgrowers @wheatsd @mnwheat #wheat #fungicide

New and sleeker!

Watch When Early Planting Doesn't Work Out from Extension at youtu.be/vXI_tqn39fU. @badgerbean @WIAgContent @BadgerCropNet @SoybeanScience1 @WISoybean @UWMadisonPAS @WISoyCheckoff #plant26 #soybean #USSoy

Many pathogens cause seed decay and seedling blight in corn. The first symptom may be an area of the field with poor or no stand. Decayed seeds are very soft and may be covered with fuzzy fungal growth. Post emergence damping off appears as yellowing and wilted seedlings that soon collapse leaving only dead leaves above the soil. Favored by cool, wet soils, these diseases are more common in low-lying or poorly drained areas or in fields planted too early in spring. Standard seed treatment fungicides reduce risk. Planting when the soil is above 50°F and soil moisture is not excessive also may reduce risk. Ask local Extension for more information. @baldpathologist @alisonrISU @tjcksn @cropdoc08 @DTelenko @badgercropdoc @MartinChilvers1 @ppp_trey @travisfaske @YuanZeng3 @alabamaED @MandyBish1 @maddishires #plant26 #corn #grow26

Time to study for 2026!

The 2026 CPN TV season is complete. From robotic weed control to fungicide best practices, get all the episodes at cropprotectionnetwork.org/cpn_tv. Featuring @TBryant_VT @badgercropdoc @travisfaske @DylanMangel @NCLegumeLady @maddishires @MandyBish1 @BisonBeanDoc @cropdisease @OrtezCornCrops @PurdueCorn @DTelenko @cropstressOSU @MartinChilvers1 @MahDuffeck @alisonrISU @StrayerScherer @ScottGraham72 @psikkema1 @breannetidemann +more!

Excited to win 🥇1st place at the Southern Soybean Disease Workers Annual Meeting in Pensacola, FL Grateful to @badgercropdoc, Carol Groves and @badgerbean for their support. Also honored to receive the Thomas L. German Student Support Award from Department of Plant Pathology.

After tillering, stripe rust of wheat develops parallel to leaf veins, giving the foliage a distinct striped appearance. After infection, the fungus may produce new generations of spores in as few as 10 days under optimal conditions. The primary means to manage stripe rust is to plant resistant varieties. Consider applying fungicides to susceptible varieties if stripe rust has been detected in the region and forecasted conditions are favorable for disease development and spread. Applications at flag leaf emergence help protect the flag leaf and reduce yield loss. Read more in An Overview of Stripe Rust from Extension at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/a…. @badgercropdoc @MartinChilvers1 @cropdoc08 @AlbertTenuta @travisfaske @SaskWheat @wheatgrowers @USWBSI @wheatsd @mnwheat #wheat @pcdmn @baldpathologist

Cover Crops Do's and Don't's. Read the updated article at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/c…. From @TravisLegleiter @PUweeds @MartinChilvers1 @badgerbean @IAStateWeedSci @DylanMangel @alisonrISU @badgercropdoc @AlbertTenuta @cropdoc08 +others. @CoverCropsMCCC @NAFANews @MSUcovercrops @CropsCover #covercrops #agriculture

“Accurate diagnosis of [soybean vein necrosis virus] is important because it can be easily confused with other soybean diseases, disorders, or damage, potentially leading to unnecessary fungicide applications.” From the updated publication An Overview of Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus at cropprotectionnetwork.org/publications/a… by @badgercropdoc @cropdisease @MartinChilvers1 @dsmuelle @AOV_OlmedoVelar @alabamaED @AlbertTenuta @cropdoc08 +more @baldpathologist @MandyBish1 @MahDuffeck @travisfaske @ppp_trey @maddishires @DTelenko @BisonBeanDoc #soybeans #thrips #virus #USSoy