Richard “Wade” Webster, assistant professor and soybean pathology specialist at North Dakota State University, recently presented a seminar at Iowa State University on soybean disease management and research efforts across North Dakota.
Webster discussed the rapid expansion of soybean production in North Dakota, which increased nearly 70-fold from 1980 to 2024. The state now produces soybeans on approximately 6.8 million acres, creating new challenges for managing soybean pathogens and maintaining crop health.
A major focus of Webster’s research is soybean cyst nematode (SCN), one of the most important soybean pathogens in the state. His team monitors SCN populations by distributing soil-sampling packets to counties across North Dakota and tracking sample locations using GPS coordinates. Current testing shows SCN populations are concentrated primarily in the southeastern portion of the state, where limited crop rotation can allow populations to build.
Webster also discussed research on seedling diseases and seed treatments. Fungicide seed treatments can protect seeds and young plants during the first two to three weeks after planting, helping improve germination, root development and early-season crop establishment.
For drier areas of North Dakota, deeper root systems may provide an additional advantage by allowing plants to access water more effectively throughout the growing season.
“It is crucial to be able to scavenge water more effectively throughout that season,” Webster said when discussing the potential benefits of deeper root development.
His research also examines biological products, cover crops and other tools that could help producers manage disease and improve decision-making. While cover crops can reduce erosion and have been associated with higher yields in some environments, Webster noted that they can also use valuable soil moisture when precipitation is limited.
Combining management strategies, such as cover crops and seed treatments, showed benefits during a wet growing season but did not produce the same results under water-stressed conditions.
“It doesn’t hold true in water-stressed environments,” Webster said.
The seminar emphasized the importance of developing disease-management recommendations that account for differences in climate, soil moisture, pathogen populations and production systems. Webster’s research continues to evaluate these factors while working toward improved tools and strategies for soybean producers in North Dakota and beyond.