The Free SCN Testing program, led by Dr. Nathan Schroeder at the University of Illinois and funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff, continues to help farmers track soybean cyst nematode (SCN) levels across the state. 

From June through August 2025, Schroeder's team processed 109 soil samples from 16 counties. "The average SCN egg count was 737, which is relatively low," says Schroeder. "However, about 10% of samples showed medium levels above 2,000, and one came back very high with 20,200 eggs." 

SCN remains the #1 soybean pathogen because of the economic loss it causes and its ability to adapt to resistance traits. Yet, because it's an unseen pest, farmers can't detect it without soil sampling—an added cost that often delays management. By offering free sampling, the Illinois Soybean Association helps offset that burden while revealing where SCN populations exist and how quickly they're adapting across the state. 

New for the upcoming year, a subset of samples collected between September 2025 and August 2026 will also be tested for lesion nematode as part of another Illinois Soybean checkoff-funded project. 

This fall marks the third year of the free SCN testing program. For updates on this project, visit the Field Advisor Research Hub. Submit your soil samples today and take advantage of the program by clicking here.