Estimated soybean yield and economic losses caused by diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2020 to 2024

The impact of plant diseases on soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) yield was estimated across 29 states and Ontario, Canada from 2020 to 2024 by university and government plant pathologists. Losses from 29 pathogens or groups of pathogens were estimated at the end of each growing season through a survey and summarized across years and locations. Diseases reduced soybean yield by an estimated 1.2 billion bushels (32.8 million metric tons) valued at $14.6 billion USD for the survey period. Per acre, this estimated mean economic loss was equal to $32.93 USD ($81.37 USD per hectare) across all locations and years, excluding costs such as fungicide seed treatments and foliar applications. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) reduced yield by 482.4 million bushels (13.1 million metric tons), a value nearly four times greater than the next greatest cause of yield loss, which was sudden death syndrome (SDS) (caused by Fusarium virguliforme O’Donnell & T. Aoki). Following SCN and SDS, the most significant yield losses were attributed to white mold (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [Lib.] de Bary), seedling diseases (caused by various pathogens), Phytophthora root and stem rot (caused by Phytophthora sojae Kaufm. & Gerd.), and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), in descending order. The most important diseases in the southern U.S. were generally different from those in the northern U.S. and Ontario. Data presented here will enable government agencies, scientists, educators, commodity groups, funding organizations, and plant breeders to enhance and prioritize policy, research, funding, and education regarding soybean disease management.

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Journal
Plant Health Progress
Published
2025-11-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1094/php-09-25-0227-rs
Primary Topic
Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
Type
article
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article

Estimated soybean yield and economic losses caused by diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2020 to 2024

John Bonkowski, LeAnn Lux, Santiago X. Mideros, Samuel G. Markell et al.
Plant Health Progress
Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
article

Estimated soybean yield and economic losses caused by diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2020 to 2024

John Bonkowski, LeAnn Lux, Santiago X. Mideros, Samuel G. Markell, Rodrigo Onofre, Mandy Bish, Berlin D. Nelson, Terry Spurlock, Thomas Isakeit, Emmanuel Byamukama, J. P. Damicone, Kaitlyn Bissonnette, Kelsey Mehl, David B. Langston, Hillary L. Mehl, Daren S. Mueller, Martin I. Chilvers, Richard Webster, Madalyn K. Shires, Michael T. Plumblee, C. Tande, Zane J. Grabau, Lindsey D. Thiessen, Thomas Wesley Allen, Boyd Padgett, Nathan M. Kleczewski, Adam Sisson, Chelsea J. Harbach, Paul D. Esker, Maíra Rodrigues Duffeck, Josh Lofton, Dylan Mangel, Ken Wise, Alyssa Collins, Carl A. Bradley, Nick Dufault, Albert Tenuta, Gary C. Bergstrom, Febina M. Mathew, Dean K. Malvick, Heather Kelly, Robert C. Kemerait, Horacio D. Lopez‐Nicora, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Edward J. Sikora, F. Warner, Jason P. Bond, Paul P. Price, Travis Faske, Damon L. Smith, Ian M. Small, Yuan Zeng, Tristan Watson, Boris Camiletti, John Mueller, Tamra A. Jackson, Alyssa K. Betts
article en

Abstract

The impact of plant diseases on soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) yield was estimated across 29 states and Ontario, Canada from 2020 to 2024 by university and government plant pathologists. Losses from 29 pathogens or groups of pathogens were estimated at the end of each growing season through a survey and summarized across years and locations. Diseases reduced soybean yield by an estimated 1.2 billion bushels (32.8 million metric tons) valued at $14.6 billion USD for the survey period. Per acre, this estimated mean economic loss was equal to $32.93 USD ($81.37 USD per hectare) across all locations and years, excluding costs such as fungicide seed treatments and foliar applications. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) reduced yield by 482.4 million bushels (13.1 million metric tons), a value nearly four times greater than the next greatest cause of yield loss, which was sudden death syndrome (SDS) (caused by Fusarium virguliforme O’Donnell & T. Aoki). Following SCN and SDS, the most significant yield losses were attributed to white mold (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [Lib.] de Bary), seedling diseases (caused by various pathogens), Phytophthora root and stem rot (caused by Phytophthora sojae Kaufm. & Gerd.), and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), in descending order. The most important diseases in the southern U.S. were generally different from those in the northern U.S. and Ontario. Data presented here will enable government agencies, scientists, educators, commodity groups, funding organizations, and plant breeders to enhance and prioritize policy, research, funding, and education regarding soybean disease management.

Plant Health Progress
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (US), University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US), Oklahoma State University (US), Louisiana State University (US), Dakota State University (US), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (CA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (US), University of Minnesota (US), Pennsylvania State University (US), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (US), Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (US), University of Wisconsin–Madison (US), North Carolina State University (US), University of Kentucky (US), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), State Street (United States) (US), University of Georgia (US), Iowa State University (US), South Dakota State University (US), Kansas State University (US), Cotton (United States) (US), Cornell University (US), Purdue University West Lafayette (US), University of Arkansas System (US), X-Fab (Germany) (DE), Blackstone (United States) (US), Oklahoma State University System (US), University of Florida (US), Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society (US), Michigan United (US), EUnited (Belgium) (BE), Kerrville VA Medical Center (US), Plant (United States) (US), The Ohio State University (US), North Dakota State University (US), Goodwin College (US), University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US), University of Missouri–Kansas City (US), University of Missouri (US), University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US), Clemson University (US), Auburn University (US), Virginia Tech (US), University of Delaware (US), Michigan State University (US), Texas A&M University (US), Quincy University (US), Mississippi State University (US)
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Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
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