Ep 29: Crushing Charcoal Rot to Protect Soybean Yields

Spilling the Beans | A Grow Smart® Live Podcast

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Charcoal rot may not be the flashiest disease in soybeans, but it’s a sneaky yield-robber that thrives in hot, dry conditions—exactly what many growers could face in 2025. In this episode, we welcome back Mark Storr, BASF Senior Technical Service Representative, to spotlight this often-overlooked threat. From identifying charcoal rot in the field to exploring management strategies like fertility, residue, and variety selection, Mark shares practical tools to help growers defend against mid-to-late season yield loss.

Key Takeaways:

• How to identify charcoal rot symptoms and distinguish them from lookalikes
• Why foliar fungicides don’t work—and what management tactics do
• The value of fertility, especially phosphorus, in supporting healthy roots
• How residue, RM selection, and tillage can help reduce plant stress
• The importance of sending in plant samples for proper diagnosis
• Trusted resources like the Crop Protection Network for field identification

Disclaimer:

Liberty, Outlook , Zidua, Zidua PRO , Poncho Votivo Precise, Endura , Revytek, Fastac CS, ILEVO , Vault IP Plus , Relenya , Priaxor , Liberty ULTRA , are registered trademarks of BASF. Nemasphere, Zorina and Voraxor are trademarks of BASF. Enlist, Enlist One, Enlist Duo, and Enlist E3 are registered trademarks of Corteva Agriscience LLC. The transgenic event in Enlist E3 soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience LLC and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C.

Xitavo is a registered trademark of MS Technologies and exclusively distributed by BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner.

Always read and follow label directions. Before mixing components, always conduct a compatibility jar test. Always consult respective product labels for specific mixing instructions. The most restrictive label applies. Fastac CS is a restricted use pesticide. Nemasphere, Zorina, and Voraxor are not registered and not available for sale. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of this product. Any sale of this product after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label. The views expressed by BASF employees and Guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of BASF. Grow Smart is a registered trademark of BASF. Copyright 2025 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Chapters

1. Ep 29: Crushing Charcoal Rot to Protect Soybean Yields (00:00:00)

2. Podcast Introduction and Planting Season Update (00:00:02)

3. Understanding Charcoal Rot in Soybeans (00:06:46)

4. Conditions That Favor Charcoal Rot (00:12:58)

5. Best Management Practices for Control (00:18:15)

6. Identifying Disease in the Field (00:22:18)

7. Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts (00:26:26)