Source: SCN Coalition

The SCN Coalition is declaring Oct. 2 National Nematode Day, with support from BASF, Bayer, Nufarm and Syngenta, to increase soybean farmers’ awareness of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) — the No. 1 yield-grabbing pathogen of the soybean crop in North America.

The four weeks leading up to National Nematode Day will feature quizzes about SCN and other parasitic nematodes that impact soybean production like lesion, Southern root-knot and reniform, and a chance to win a weekly $500 sweepstakes. Follow @TheSCNCoalition on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for your chance to win.

Are you smarter than a nematode?

Look for the first quiz on September 5, with the answer announced on Friday. Beyond bragging rights, those answering the quizzes correctly will be entered into a weekly sweepstakes for a $500 giveaway. See our National Nematode Day page for more sweepstakes details. The four winners will be announced on National Nematode Day.

Why dedicate an entire day to nematodes?

The good news is there are ways to actively manage the pest. “Increasing awareness about parasitic nematodes lays the foundation for the importance of soil testing and developing a plan so farmers can realize their soybean crops’ full potential,” says Horacio Lopez-Nicora, plant pathologist and nematologist with the Ohio State University and a member of The SCN Coalition.