According to new data from the Crop Protection Network, soilborne threats like Soybean Cyst Nematode, Sudden Death Syndrome, and Red Crown Rot caused millions of dollars in yield losses during 2024 alone.

“SDS and nematodes are the two that are probably the most common,” says Dale Ireland, Technical Product Lead at Syngenta . “Nematodes are on almost all soy acres across the U.S. to some degree or another, and they amplify SDS, or Sudden Death Syndrome. Now Red Crown Rot is kind of an up-and-comer, but certainly with soybean production frequently within our crop rotation, those are all very good hosts for soybean cyst nematode, SDS, Sudden Death Syndrome, and then increasingly in the Southern Midwest, Red Crown Rot.”

These diseases have become increasingly stubborn across the Midwest — thriving even when farmers rotate crops and manage residue.

But now, there’s a new tool ready to take on the challenge. Syngenta’s Victrato Seed Treatment has been newly registered for soybeans — offering farmers protection against multiple soilborne pathogens in one pass. The company says Victrato helps maintain healthier roots and higher yield potential from planting to harvest.

Ireland adds, “What’s unique about Victrato is that it’s more efficacious on nematodes and early-season disease, as well as Sudden Death Syndrome and Red Crown Rot, as anything that’s on the market, statistically different, and that’s the most exciting thing. It’s powered by TYMIRIUM® technology. So, if you’ve heard of TYMIRIUM technology over the last two, three, or four years, once it’s registered, it’ll be called Victrato, and that’s its branded name that will be used in the marketplace. We’re very excited. We know it very, very well, and we think growers will be very excited to use it, because it sets a new level of protection.”

With the next planting season on the horizon, farmers are keeping a close eye on what Victrato could mean for stronger stands — and stronger profits — in 2025.

For more details, visit SyngentaUS.com