Minnesota

MPR 10/21/25
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/10/21/red-crown-rot-a-fungal-disease-for-soybeans-found-in-minnesota

Red crown rot, a fungal disease that hides in soil, rots soybean roots away and destroys part of the bean's leaf tissue, has been found in Minnesota. And there’s no cure for it.

Dean Malvick, a University of Minnesota Extension disease researcher, said when a Rock County farmer sent samples for testing in September, he was confounded.

“At first, we were questioning whether it was really [red crown rot],” Malvick said. “Because it hadn't been detected anywhere near that location.”

Red crown rot was previously detected in Missouri last year. How it made its way north without being detected in Iowa or other surrounding states remains a mystery.

. . .

“There are many questions here about [red crown rot], as to how important and destructive it will be in Minnesota,” Malvick said. “It could be really important, or maybe not so important.”

While Malvick is concerned over the rot’s presence in the state, he said there’s no cause for alarm.