Between 2015 and 2017, a national public-private partnership with the objective to help growers reduce their risk to the yield threat posed by the breakdown of SCN resistance was developed (see graphic on page 4). Since the launch of the SCN Coalition in February, 2018, The SCN Coalition has been mentioned in 458 online articles resulting in 19 million impressions in ag media, currently with 15.2% of the total share of discussion on SCN. The SCN Coalition has successfully leveraged funding to create a robust communications program using social and traditional media, a presence at national events, and through local Extension networks.

Development and success of the SCN Coalition is directly linked to support from the NCSRP. The NSCRP resources have been leveraged extensively to secure direct financial support from the United Soybean Board (USB) and private corporate partners that supports complementary SCN Coalition activities and additional highly significant in-kind support from the private sector. In FY21, direct and indirect support for SCN coalition activities exceeds $2M, and is a testament to the power of NCSRP-leveraged support.

We believe it is now time to move and evolve the SCN Coalition, and we present to you the proposal, The SCN Coalition: Advancing Management. In this proposal, the SCN Coalition is requesting continued foundational support for program management, partner relations and recruitment and ongoing communications, as we evolve. In addition to maintaining and building the robust communication tools under development (Let's Talk Tode's, www.thescncoalition.com, major media presence, etc.), we anticipate two primary strategic additions, both charted by market-driven data.

First, the SCN Coalition will enter a new phase of education activities. To date, we have largely provided growers with focused educational materials on the tools (and how to use them) to manage SCN (such as soil sampling, resistance and rotation). Messages have changed little since the 1990s, but our understanding of the science behind them is dramatically different. In this phase, we will focus our communications efforts on explaining research developments to answer the ‘why’ questions. Ultimately, people are more likely to trust science if they understand the science. The SCN Coalition will translate the SCN-related scientific discoveries into understandable language, and deliver them to growers.

Second, the SCN Coalition will include other economically important nematodes of soybeans, such as root-knot and reniform nematode. The expansion supports the National Soybean Nematode Strategic Plan and the needs of the many growers who must manage multiple economically important nematodes (and associated diseases) in their soybeans.

The objectives of the SCN Coalition are to 1) increase grower and industry awareness of the increasing threat to soybean yields as nematode populations adapt to the source of resistance, PI88788, 2) unify the public and private sector around straightforward management recommendations and their communication, and 3) ultimately, slow the erosion of the PI88788 effectiveness.

SCN Coalition Partner Relations and Recruitment, SCN Coalition Management, and SCN Coalition Communications. Taken together, deliverables include a robust and grower coalition of partners (public and private) that contribute to the SCN Coalition (financially, technically, etc.) to achieve the mission of increasing grower awareness and active management of SCN, and limiting yield loss to the nematode.

Updated April 19, 2021:
Progress Report: Second SCN Coalition: Resistance Management and Awareness Campaign
Date: April 1, 2021
Prepared by: Sam Markell, NDSU

Summary:
The SCN Coalition continues to increase awareness and active management of SCN among growers and the agriculture industry. NCSRP provides foundational funding that has led to one of the largest and most effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) ever developed to manage an agricultural pest. NCSRP’s funding allows for the communications, management of partner relations that makes the SCN Coalition work. Below, we present updates on SCN Coalition activities.

Market Research
Recently, market research was conducted to measure the impact of The SCN Coalition in late 2020. A robust national survey (95% confidence level) of 950 growers from 17 states was conducted in the late fall of 2020 (funded by USB). Results suggest that SCN may be the most impactful public-private partnership and Extension awareness campaign in U.S. agriculture. Results documented that soybean growers recalled 55% to 76% of the primary messages from the extension educational campaign. Compared to market research results from the same survey administered in late 2015 (funded by private partners), 6% to 18% more U.S. soybean growers reported utilizing tools to actively manage SCN. Using conservative estimates, the significant change in active management is resulting in yield increases that translate into $100M+ gains annually for U.S. soybean growers.

Let’s Talk Todes I (Summer 2020). Private partner funded.
The SCN Coalition created the “Let’s Talk Todes” education program in 2020. This included 23 videos in which Extension specialists and growers visited about SCN and SCN management in four states (ND, MO, IA and AR). North Dakota videos featured Mike Langseth (North Dakota Soybean Council Member) and Chandra Langseth (former Extension agent Richland Co., and current instructor at the North Dakota State College of Science). A six-week educational and media campaign was conducted during the 2020 harvest to promote the first six videos. In that time frame, the Let’s Talk Todes program (www.thescncoalition.com/lets-talk-todes) generated a total of 913,070 video views and the press releases generated more than 1.2 million impressions within the U.S. agriculture media.

SCN Coalition Wins the Best of Show Award (Summer 2020).
The SCN Coalition won the Best of Show National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) award in Public Relations for its media relations campaign. NAMA is the largest U.S. association for marketing and agribusiness, and the Best of NAMA Awards honor the nation’s best work in agricultural communications. This is the highest level of recognition that NAMA awards annually, and the high recognition for The SCN Coalition comes with anticipation of major long-term outcomes. The award was accompanied with an acceptance video and press release issued on August 12, 2020. https://twitter.com/i/status/1298621516733710336

Let’s Talk Todes II (Fall 2020/Winter 2021) USB funded USB# 2020-172-0163
Building upon the success of the Let’s Talk Todes series, The SCN Coalition developed a series to take grower behind-the-scenes of cutting-edge checkoff-funded research. The series visited Dr. Melissa Mitchum at the University of Georgia, along with soybean breeders and plant geneticists. A total of 7 videos were produced and made live in March 2021 and a series of three press releases will be available to the media during March and April. We broadly anticipate approximately 350,000 to 500,000 video views and 1 million impressions in the agriculture media. Additionally, 2 videos that feature University of Georgia Extension Plant Pathologist Bob Kemerait and a soybean grower from northwest Georgia discussing how to protect yield from the threat of nematodes were added to a Georgia video collection hosted on the Coalition’s website.

Expansion of local Extension Efforts (Ongoing). USB funded with additional leveraged funding from QSSB.
Financial support from USB in FY2021 supported a continues expansion of local Extension education efforts across two dozen states. Each state is currently delivering information on the most appropriate management strategies for their specific growers. SCN Coalition members within each state have (and continue to) successfully navigated challenges presented by COIVD-19 and the subsequent political/social response to the epidemic. Some of the outputs included the development of sampling programs, virtual/live meetings, publications, videos and interactions with local agricultural media.

News releases and major media presence (February 2018-Current). NCSRP funded, with leveraged media support from private partners and agricultural media, partial support from USB.
Between the launch of The SCN Coalition in February 2018 and December 31, 2020, “The SCN Coalition” has been mentioned in 429 online articles resulting in 21.4 Million Impressions in the agricultural media. This accounts for over 15% of the total share of online discussion on SCN.

Market Research (Current). USB funded
Market research was conducted to measure the impact of The SCN Coalition in late 2020. A robust national survey (95% confidence level) of 950 growers from 17 states was conducted in the late fall of 2020. Results suggest that SCN may be the most impactful public-private partnership and Extension awareness campaign in U.S. agriculture. Results documented that soybean growers recalled 55% to 76% of the primary messages from the extension educational campaign. Compared to market research results from the same survey administered in late 2015, 6% to 18% more U.S. soybean growers reported utilizing tools to actively manage SCN. Using conservative estimates, the significant change in active management is resulting in yield increases that translate into $100M+ gains annually for U.S. soybean growers.

View uploaded report

Updated October 29, 2021:
Progress Report: Second SCN Coalition: Advancing Management
Date: October 31, 2021
Prepared by: Sam Markell, NDSU

SUMMARY:

Background. The SCN Coalition is a public/private partnership of soybean checkoff, private companies and universities. The mission of The SCN Coalition is to conduct an SCN Resistance Management and Awareness Campaign to educate growers and industry on the reality of SCN resistance development, to slow the development of highly aggressive soybean cyst nematode (SCN) populations, and to minimize increasing levels of yield loss. North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) provides foundational funding that has led to one of the largest and most effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) ever developed to manage an agricultural pest. NCSRP’s funds allow for the communications and management of partner relations that makes The SCN Coalition work. Below, we present updates on The SCN Coalition activities.

Mission and Activities in FY2021. To accomplish our mission, we aim to increase active management of SCN, and encourage growers to talk to their advisors about the four primary management actions (testing, rotation, resistance, seed treatments) so they can develop a strategy that best fits their farm. We have leveraged NCSRP funding from multiple sources; all funding is complementary and not codependent. Funding from the NCSRP supports the communication and partner relations of The SCN Coalition (it is central to everything The SCN Coalition does). Leveraged funding received from corporate private partners supports primarily national activities of The SCN Coalition. In FY2021, this included the first video series: “Let’s Talk Todes.” In addition, in-kind funding from private corporate partners (media, advertising, etc.) multiplies The SCN Coalition messages. In FY2021, leveraged funding from the United Soybean Board (USB) supported three projects; a robust virtual programming effort called “Let’s Talk Tode’s II’, state-specific Extension activities in support of The SCN Coalition (‘SCN Coalition: Reinforcing and Maintaining Local Efforts and Sustainable Yields’) and market research to determine the impact of The SCN Coalition to date, and chart its course for the future (‘Determination of Impact, Return on Investment for The SCN Coalition, and Future Planning for The SCN Coalition and the National Soybean Nematode Strategic Plan’).

Outputs and Outcomes in FY 2021. In FY2021, messaging of The SCN Coalition was mentioned in 217 online articles, resulting in 8.7 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 21.8% of the total share of online discussions on SCN. Since the launch of The SCN Coalition in February 2018, The SCN Coalition has been mentioned in 695 online articles, resulting in 28.1 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 16.4% of the total share of online discussion on SCN. To determine impact of The SCN Coalition to date, data was collected in a survey that targeted 950 soybean farmers across 17 states; a repeat of the same survey conducted in 2015. Results demonstrated high SCN Coalition message recall among growers, increased active SCN management by growers, and high economic return on The SCN Coalition investments. Specifically, message recall of “rotation to non-host crop” was 76%, “rotate resistant varieties” was 65%, “consider a nematode-protectant seed treatment” was 65% and “actively manage SCN” was 55%. A statistical increase (5% or greater) from 2015 to 2020 was found in some active SCN management strategies, including a 10% increase in growers rotating sources of resistance, an 18% increase in growers using nematicide protectant seed treatments, a 10% increase in growers using Peking resistance in soybean rotation, a 6% increase in growers rotating non-host crops, and a 7% increase in growers planting SCN-resistant varieties. Surveyed growers report capturing an additional 5.1 bushels per acre by actively managing SCN, adding $48.45 per acre to their bottom line based on the average price of soybeans of $9.50 during that time. The SCN Coalition is in the process of evolving from SCN-specific messaging and educational information, to include information on other plant parasitic nematodes on soybeans and soybean diseases influence by nematodes, such as Sudden Death Syndrome and Brown Stem Rot. Leveraged funding (including both private corporate partners and USB) has been secured in FY2022, and will promote new and additional messages to growers.

DETAIL SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES, OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES FOR FY2021:

Market Research and Impact (USB funded)
Market research was conducted to measure the impact of The SCN Coalition. A robust national survey (95% confidence level) of 950 growers from 17 states was conducted in the late fall of 2020. Results demonstrate high message recall of SCN Coalition messaging. Specifically, “rotation to non-host crop” (76%), “rotate resistant varieties (65%), “consider a nematode-protectant seed treatment” (65%) and “actively manage SCN” (55%). A statistical increase (5% or greater) from 2015 to 2020 was found in some active management strategies, including a 10% increase in growers rotating sources of resistance, an 18% increase in growers using nematicide protectant seed treatments, an 10% increase in growers using Peking resistance in soybean rotation, a 6% increase in growers rotating non-host crops, and a 7% increase in growers planting SCN-resistant varieties. Results and economic impact statements were drafted in a meeting between SCN Coalition and USB (May 10-11, 2021, in Minneapolis) and were approved by USDA. The statement reads, “The projected economic impact of The SCN Coalition is staggering. Depending on the tool(s) growers use, 6% to 18% more growers are actively managing SCN than in 2015. Surveyed growers report capturing an additional 5.1 bushels per acre, adding $48.45 per acre to their bottom line based on the average price of soybeans of $9.50 during that time. But research demonstrates that depending on the level of SCN reproduction occurring on resistant soybean varieties in growers’ fields, up to 23% more yield may have been recouped by actively managing SCN.”

Let’s Talk Todes I (Summer to winter, 2020). Private partner funded.
The SCN Coalition created the “Let’s Talk Todes” education program in 2020. This included 23 videos in which Extension specialists and growers visited about SCN and SCN management in four states (ND, MO, IA and AR). North Dakota videos featured Mike Langseth (North Dakota Soybean Council Member) and Chandra Langseth (former Extension agent Richland Co., and current instructor at the North Dakota State College of Science). A six-week educational and media campaign was conducted during the 2020 harvest to promote the active management series of videos. In that time frame, the Let’s Talk Todes program (www.thescncoalition.com/lets-talk-todes) generated a total of 913,070 video views and more than 1.7 million impressions and the press releases generated more than 1.2 million impressions within the U.S. agriculture media.

Let’s Talk Todes II (Fall 2020/Winter 2021) USB funded
Building upon the success of the Let’s Talk Todes series, The SCN Coalition developed a series to take grower behind-the-scenes of cutting-edge checkoff-funded research. The series visited Dr. Melissa Mitchum at the University of Georgia, along with soybean breeders and plant geneticists. A total of 7 videos were produced and made live in March 2021. During a six-week period in the summer of 2021, an educational and media campaign to promote this series generated 969,057 video views, 2.66 million potential impressions and the press releases generated nearly 1 million impressions within the U.S. agriculture media

Expansion of local Extension Efforts (Ongoing). USB funded with additional leveraged funding from QSSB.
Financial support from USB in FY2021 supported an expansion of local Extension education efforts across two dozen states. Each state is currently delivering information on the most appropriate management strategies for their specific growers. SCN Coalition members within each state have (and continue to) successfully navigated challenges presented by COVID-19 and the subsequent political/social response to the epidemic. Some of the outputs included the development of sampling programs, virtual/live meetings, publications, videos and interactions with local agricultural media.
Communications (NCSRP and leveraged):
In this period (October 2020 – September 2021), The SCN Coalition was mentioned in 217 online articles, resulting in 8.7 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 21.8% of the total share of online discussions on SCN. Since the launch of The SCN Coalition in February 2018, The SCN Coalition has been mentioned in 695 online articles, resulting in 28.1 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 16.4% of the total share of online discussion on SCN.

Details of communications activities in this period below.

Media Interviews:
• Greg Tylka
o 10/6/2020: Anna Hastert, Iowa Agribusiness Radio – “Let’s Talk Todes: Weather Impacts” video, https://www.iowaagribusinessradionetwork.com/battle-against-scn-becomes-more-complex/
o 10/6/2020: Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News - “Let’s Talk Todes: Weather Impacts” video, https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/dry-hot-conditions-generate-scn-concerns/
o 10/6/2020: Mike Adams, American Ag Network/Adams on Agriculture - “Let’s Talk Todes: Weather Impacts” video, https://adamsonag.podbean.com/e/adams-on-agriculture-oct-6-2020/
o 10/12/2020: Deloss Jahnke, Illinois Farm Bureau – “Let’s Talk Todes: Weather Impacts” video
o 10/13/2020: Ashley Davenport, Michigan Ag Today – “Let’s Talk Todes: Weather Impacts” video
o 10/20/2020: Jeff Nalley, Cromwell Ag Network (Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana) – “Let’s Talk Todes: SCN Soil Test Management”
o 10/21/2020: Pam Smith, DTN – SCN Weather Impacts/Soil Testing
o 10/22/2020: Tom Rider, WNAX Radio – ISU Nematologist Says Farmers Need to Do Soil Testing for SCN, https://wnax.com/news/180081-isu-nematologist-says-farmers-need-to-do-soil-testing-for-scn/
o 11/20/2020: Mike Adams, American Ag Network/Adams on Agriculture - Rotating sources of SCN resistance and selecting SCN resistant varieties, https://adamsonag.podbean.com/e/adams-on-agriculture-nov-20-2020/
o 11/23/2020: Chip Flory, AgriTalk – How hot/dry conditions impact SCN and what they mean for the future. Also, how soybean seed variety selection impacts a farmer’s bottom line, and active management starts with a soil test
o 1/26/2021: Bob Quinn, WHO Big Show – SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings
o 1/26/2021: Mike Adams, American Ag Network/Adams on Agriculture – SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings, https://adamsonag.podbean.com/e/adams-on-agriculture-january-26-2021/ (starts at -7:51)
o 1/26/2021: Chip Flory, AgriTalk – "Unidentified" soybean disease in Brazil and SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings, https://omny.fm/shows/agritalk/agritalk-january-26-2021?t=34m14s
o 1/26/2021: Tom Rider, WNEX – SCN map (taped 10-minute interview)
o 1/28/2021: Jared White, WHOW/WTIM/IllinoisFarmRadio.com – SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings
o 1/28/2021: Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News – SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings, https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/dry-2020-likely-exacerbates-soybean-cyst-nematode-pressure-going-forward/
o 1/29/2021: Tammi Arender, RFD-TV – SCN Keeps Spreading, report findings
o 2/11/2021: Ashley Davenport, Michigan Ag Today – Published findings on SCN spreading, https://www.michiganagtoday.com/scn-keeps-spreading-new-form-of-resistance-available-for-2021-growing-season/
o 4/29/2021: Dennis Michelsen, WITY Radio – Economic importance of actively managing SCN
o 5/6/2021: George Bower, Spencer Radio Group - Gene Editing/New Tool to Combat Virulent Nematodes (Let's Talk Todes" CRISPR release)
o 5/28/2021: WNAX - Greg Tylka will be sharing his management ideas and the latest SCN information at a field day at the Research Farm near Kanawha on June 23, https://wnax.com/news/180081-isu-professor-says-soybean-cyst-nematode-building-up-resistance/
o 7/13/2021: Andy Peterson, The Big Show – Summer SCN Scouting (live interview during 12:35 p.m. show)
o 7/19/2021: Tammi Arender, RFD-TV Market Day Report – Summer SCN Scouting (interview featured in 1:30 p.m. broadcast)
o 8/10/2021: Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News – Summer SCN Scouting, https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/drought-conditions-lead-to-increased-soybean-cyst-nematode-reproduction/
• Sam Markell
o 10/21/2020: Pam Smith, DTN – SCN Weather Impacts/Soil Testing
o 11/30/2020: Hefty Brothers, AgPhD – SCN
o 1/27/2021: Mick Kjar, Farm Talk Radio – SCN Keeps Spreading, map
• Kaitlyn Bissonnette
o 10/21/2020: Pam Smith, DTN – SCN Weather Impacts/Soil Testing
o 5/11/2021: Amy Winder, Brownfield Ag News – Free soil testing for Missouri farmers, https://brownfieldagnews.com/2021/05/free-soil-testing-available-for-a-difficult-to-detect-pest/ and https://kgfw.com/2021/05/11/free-soil-testing-available-for-a-difficult-to-detect-pest/
• Melissa Mitchum
o 4/23/2021: Pam Smith, DTN - Let's Talk Todes Research Collection NR #3 (Breeding/CRISPR)
o 6/14/2021: Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News - "Let's Talk Todes: "Research Collection,” https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/dry-conditions-aid-in-proliferation-of-soybean-cyst-nematode/
o 6/14/2021: Mike Adams, Adams on Ag (live) - "Let's Talk Todes: "Research Collection,” https://adamsonag.podbean.com/e/adams-on-agriculture-june-14-2021/
o 6/17/2021: Ashley Davenport, Michigan Ag today – “Let’s Talk Todes: Research Collection,” https://www.michiganagtoday.com/gene-editing-is-newest-tool-to-combat-scn-resistance/
o 6/17/2021: Dustin Hoffman, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network – “Let’s Talk Todes: Research Collection,” https://www.iowaagribusinessradionetwork.com/scn-coalition-highlights-checkoff-funded-research-accomplishments/
• Gary Carlton Bergstrom
o Darrell Anderson, Farm to Fork – Published findings on SCN spreading, http://www.northshoreproductions.com/affiliate-downloads.htm
• Martin Chilvers
o Jared White, WHOW/WTIM/IllinoisFarmRadio.com – Summer SCN Scouting
o 7/21/2021: Nicole Heslip, Brownfield Ag News – Summer SCN Scouting
o 7/27/2021: Mike Adams, Adams on Ag (live) – Summer SCN Scouting, https://adamsonag.podbean.com/e/adams-on-agriculture-july-27-2021/
• Paul Kassel
o WNAX - … soybean cyst nematode … Greg Tylka is our expert on that …, https://wnax.com/news/180081-soybean-management-to-be-discussed-at-isu-research-farm-field-day/

Distribution through agricultural media:
A four-part series of press releases was distributed to ag media during the 2020 soybean harvest promoting the active management video collection. The releases included one page of additional quotes from experts so editors could personalize their stories. Releases included:
• SCN Thrives in Hot and Dry Soils – “Let’s Talk Todes” video series highlights how weather impacts SCN (Distributed Oct. 6, 2020)
• Successful Management of SCN Starts with a Soil Test – “Let’s Talk Todes” video series highlights the importance of testing soil for SCN (Distributed Oct. 20, 2020)
• SCN is the Most Damaging Soybean Pathogen in North America – “Let’s Talk Todes” video series highlights why SCN is the No. 1 yield-grabbing pest of soybeans (Distributed Nov. 10, 2020)
• SCN Resistant Variety Selection is Crucial – “Let’s Talk Todes” video series highlights how variety selection impacts soybean growers’ bottom line (Distributed Nov. 17, 2020)

A three-part series of press releases was distributed to ag media in the spring of 2021 that promoted the research video collection. These also included an additional page of quotes from experts so editors could personalize their stories. Releases included:
• Understanding Nematode Spit is Key in Fight Against Virulent Nematodes (Distributed March 23, 2021)
• Diverse Nematode Collection Aids Researchers (Distributed April 12, 2021)
• Gene Editing is a New Tool to Combat Virulent Nematodes – ‘Let’s Talk Todes’ video series highlights what the future holds in nematode management (Distributed May 3, 2021)

Additional SCN Coalition Press Releases included:
• SCN Keeps Spreading (Distributed January 25, 2021: 61 online articles, 5,401,368 potential impressions)
• Southern Soybean Growers Face Multiple Nematode Threats – The SCN Coalition expands education to other plant-parasitic nematodes impacting soybean production (Arkansas video collection) (Distributed February 9, 2021: 9 online articles, 323,836 potential impressions)
• New Study: Up to 18% More Soybean Growers are Now Actively Managing SCN Resistance (Market Research) (Distributed June 9, 2021: 25 online articles, 408,245 potential impressions)
• Time to Scout for SCN Females and Other Associated Plant Diseases (Link to Weather Impacts video) (Distributed July 13, 2021: 13 online articles, 376,845 potential impressions)

Partner Relations (NCSRP):
Current membership in The SCN Coalition includes eight private companies, national, regional and state soybean checkoff organizations and two dozen universities (graphic below). In FY2021, SCN Coalition leadership has maintained communication with partners, to coordinate messaging and media. Several significant outputs during this time have included cooperation on BASF ‘Nematode Awareness Month’, and commitments (to date) of $150,000 for the public/private video series (Summer 2022) of ‘Let’s Talk Todes Together,’ with additional support anticipated (at least on additional partner is currently committing an unknown level of support). The National Soybean Nematode Conference is scheduled for December 16-18, 2022, in Savannah Georgia. An announcement will be made soon.

View uploaded report

View uploaded report 2

We are proud to report progress on the project 'Second SCN Coalition: Advancing Management'. We thank the NCSRP and soybean growers for their support.

Background.
The SCN Coalition is a public/private partnership of soybean checkoff, private companies and universities. The mission of The SCN Coalition is to conduct an SCN Resistance Management and Awareness Campaign to educate growers and industry on the reality of SCN resistance development, to slow the development of highly aggressive soybean cyst nematode (SCN) populations, and to minimize increasing levels of yield loss. North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) provides foundational funding that has led to one of the largest and most effective Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) ever developed to manage an agricultural pest. NCSRP’s funds allow for the communications and management of partner relations that makes The SCN Coalition work. Below, we present updates on The SCN Coalition activities.

Mission and Activities in FY2021.
To accomplish our mission, we aim to increase active management of SCN, and encourage growers to talk to their advisors about the four primary management actions (testing, rotation, resistance, seed treatments) so they can develop a strategy that best fits their farm. We have leveraged NCSRP funding from multiple sources; all funding is complementary and not codependent. Funding from the NCSRP supports the communication and partner relations of The SCN Coalition (it is central to everything The SCN Coalition does). Leveraged funding received from corporate private partners supports primarily national activities of The SCN Coalition. In FY2021, this included the first video series: “Let’s Talk Todes.” In addition, in-kind funding from private corporate partners (media, advertising, etc.) multiplies The SCN Coalition messages. In FY2021, leveraged funding from the United Soybean Board (USB) supported three projects; a robust virtual programming effort called “Let’s Talk Tode’s II’, state-specific Extension activities in support of The SCN Coalition (‘SCN Coalition: Reinforcing and Maintaining Local Efforts and Sustainable Yields’) and market research to determine the impact of The SCN Coalition to date, and chart its course for the future (‘Determination of Impact, Return on Investment for The SCN Coalition, and Future Planning for The SCN Coalition and the National Soybean Nematode Strategic Plan’).

Outputs and Outcomes in FY 2021.
In FY2021, messaging of The SCN Coalition was mentioned in 217 online articles, resulting in 8.7 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 21.8% of the total share of online discussions on SCN. Since the launch of The SCN Coalition in February 2018, The SCN Coalition has been mentioned in 695 online articles, resulting in 28.1 million potential impressions in ag media; this represents 16.4% of the total share of online discussion on SCN. To determine impact of The SCN Coalition to date, data was collected in a survey that targeted 950 soybean farmers across 17 states; a repeat of the same survey conducted in 2015. Results demonstrated high SCN Coalition message recall among growers, increased active SCN management by growers, and high economic return on The SCN Coalition investments. Specifically, message recall of “rotation to non-host crop” was 76%, “rotate resistant varieties” was 65%, “consider a nematode-protectant seed treatment” was 65% and “actively manage SCN” was 55%. A statistical increase (5% or greater) from 2015 to 2020 was found in some active SCN management strategies, including a 10% increase in growers rotating sources of resistance, an 18% increase in growers using nematicide protectant seed treatments, a 10% increase in growers using Peking resistance in soybean rotation, a 6% increase in growers rotating non-host crops, and a 7% increase in growers planting SCN-resistant varieties. Surveyed growers report capturing an additional 5.1 bushels per acre by actively managing SCN, adding $48.45 per acre to their bottom line based on the average price of soybeans of $9.50 during that time. The SCN Coalition is in the process of evolving from SCN-specific messaging and educational information, to include information on other plant parasitic nematodes on soybeans and soybean diseases influence by nematodes, such as Sudden Death Syndrome and Brown Stem Rot. Leveraged funding (including both private corporate partners and USB) has been secured in FY2022, and will promote new and additional messages to growers.

SCN currently causes approximately $1B in yield losses annually. Yield loss will increase as PI88788 is overcome by aggressive SCN populations. We can help mitigate and prevent this yield loss by increasing the awareness of the new threat presented by SCN and by speaking with one voice (industry and universities) on how best to manage the situation.