Learn more at Crop Management Conference, Dec. 3-4 in Columbia.
Source: Mandy Bish, 573-882-4039
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Managing red crown rot disease remains a high priority for Missouri soybean growers. Affected areas have seen yield losses of around 50%, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
Bish will discuss strategies for managing red crown rot (RCR) and other emerging soybean diseases during the Crop Management Conference, Dec. 3-4 in Columbia.
The two-day event features a range of agronomic topics; experts will discuss crop outlooks, corn and soybean diseases, weather patterns, drone research, weed management and soil health.
Bish will share 2026 research findings on RCR management and highlight emerging soybean disease concerns. Among these is Neocosmospora stem and root rot, a fungal disease confirmed in Missouri in 2025 and in Clay County, Illinois, in 2026. This fungus produces red perithecia, which are also a hallmark of RCR.
Because this newly identified disease resembles RCR and co-infections of RCR with other diseases are common, visual inspection of sick plants may not tell the full story, Bish warns.
There is no cure-all for these soilborne diseases. Accurate identification is essential to build an effective management plan. Bish will outline key symptoms and signs farmers can monitor during the season.
The MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic at https://muext.us/PlantClinic can help with diagnosis. Follow the spread of RCR and other plant diseases through the Crop Protection Network at https://cropprotectionnetwork.org.
Register for the Crop Management Conference by Nov. 30 at https://muext.us/CMC. For questions, contact Heather Bowden at nicholshn@missouri.edu or 573-882-4303.