Farmers Gain Insights from SDSU Disease Monitoring Projects

By Scout Nelson

SDSU Extension continues to strengthen its role in crop disease monitoring and plant health research across South Dakota. Leading these efforts is Madalyn Shires, assistant professor and Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, who travels across the state to connect research with producers.

One major project is a statewide wheat disease monitoring system, supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Now in its fifth year, the project collects spores from wheat fields and tests them weekly.

This allows farmers to receive early updates if diseases are detected. The system has confirmed the presence of Stagonospora leaf and glume blotch, a disease not previously recognized in the state.

With this data, Shires and her team are also developing predictive models to guide farmers on when fungicides are necessary. The first model, which predicts stripe rust, is now live, with more models planned. These tools aim to reduce unnecessary fungicide use and prevent resistance.

Beyond wheat, the program monitors other crops. In corn, tar spot is a growing concern, now confirmed in most counties. For soybeans, soybean cyst nematode remains the primary focus, with the disease spreading into more counties each year.

Testing is offered through the Plant Diagnostic Clinic, which processes over 500 samples annually and serves as South Dakota’s only public crop disease diagnostic centre.

The clinic, led by plant diagnostician Connie Tande, handles a wide range of crop health issues. Staff also collaborate with the state agriculture department on export screenings and support gardeners through a hotline service.

Even when issues are not disease-related, such as nutrient or herbicide problems, specialists connect producers to the right resources.

Outreach is central to the program. Both Shires and Tande share their findings at field days, workshops, and community events. These efforts ensure producers and the public understand not only what threats exist but also how research directly benefits agriculture.

Photo Credit: getty-images-elhenyo