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Soybeans Face Many Threats
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If I were to ask you who Ezzard Charles was, could you tell me anything about him? My guess would be that most people would say they never heard of him. Others would say, “I’ve seen that name before, but I can’t remember where.” As recently as this morning as I write this column, I heard Ezzard Charles’ name mentioned on the radio.
All Haubners in America can trace their roots back to Cincinnati, Ohio. My Dad told me that the Haubner clan immigrated to America after the Civil War and all settled in Cincinnati, which was a German stronghold. My Dad’s loyalty to Cincinnati continued until his death. My Dad’s favorite boxer was Ezzard Charles. Why? Because Ezzard was from Cincinnati. For those of you who said you have heard of the name but don’t remember where - driving south on I-75 in Cincinnati you will see an exit sign to a street named Ezzard Charles. Ezzard was the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world from 1949 to 1951. The Golden Age of Boxing began in 1919 with Jack Dempsey and probably concluded with Muhammad Ali in the 1970’s. People have heard of Joe Louis who many claim was the greatest of all boxers. But it was Ezzard Charles who beat Joe Louis in 1950. Charles fought the best: Louis and Rocky Marcino. He was one tough dude who would get knocked down time after time, only to get back up and fight some more. Against, Marcino, he didn’t get back up. This brings us to the agriculture question of the day: How many times can you get knocked down and still be able to get backup? Soybeans are called the miracle crop. The potential number of uses of soybeans is phenomenal. Soybeans are relatively a new crop to the Midwest when you compare it to corn, oats, and wheat. Corn has been here since the Native Americans. Growing up in Brown County in the 1950’s and early 60’s, I never heard of soybeans. Down there tobacco, corn and hay were king. Soybeans occupy more acres in Ohio than any other crop. It requires less dollars to grow than corn and takes less time per acre. Because of its rich protein source, South America has become a major competitor for the U.S. in the export market. Land and labor cost favors Brazil while transportation and technology remains with the U.S. Unlike corn, soybeans seem to have a never-ending list of new enemies. I’m referring to new insects and diseases that target soybeans. In 1978 I became the Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent for Clark County. That year I held a Soybean Production School and after the program a producer told me that he grows soybeans because there were no insects and diseases to worry about. The very next year an insect called the Mexican Bean Beetle attacked the soybean crop and everyone had to spray insecticide to salvage the crop. Since 1979 it’s been an insect disease that has appeared out of nowhere to knock-down the soybean plant to the canvas. We have to rush in with insecticides, fungicides and/or resistant genes to revive it so it can fight another round. This is in complete contrast to corn. Every January, all Agricultural Agents gather to receive the latest technology from OSU State Specialists in order to transfer the knowledge to producers at Pesticide Applicators Training. Every year we’re told it is the same pest in corn we have had for decades. Then we spend most of the agronomic crop time on what’s new attacking the soybean plant and knocking it to the canvas. It’s not just Pytophthora Root Rot. It’s 28 different races now of Pytophthora, plus Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phomopsis, Brown Stem Rot, Alternaria leaf spot, Sudden Death syndrome, Bacterial Blight, Downy mildew, Bean Pod Mottle Virus, Mexican Brown Beetle, Bean Leaf Beetle, slugs, seed corn maggot (yes, likes soybeans too), soybean cyst nematode, Japanese Beetles, Spider Mites and many others. New for 2005, which could again knock the soybean plant to the canvas is Soybean Aphid and Soybean Rust. 2004 was the first year we saw large numbers of soybean aphids in southern Ohio. Large number reaching the threshold to spray was found in Fayette County. Entomologists are predicting a problem with soybean aphid this year. 2005 may possess the greatest threat of all to the pummeled soybean plant: Soybean Rust. This devastating disease in South America made its way to the U.S. soil for the first time in 2004. Some are predicting it will be so bad that soybeans will cease to be grown in the South. Others feel that we may not have this problem in Ohio this year, or, if we do, one timely spray will manage this. Those betting their farm future on soybeans need to ask the question: What’s next? How many times can one be knocked to the canvas and get back up? We can only hope that Ezzard Charles and the soybean plant will never ever have something in common. Only time will tell. OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President, Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868 Updated: January 2005 |