The SCN Coalition’s National Nematode Day campaign, sponsored by BASF, Bayer, Nufarm and Syngenta, took home first place in the Unique Sponsorship Campaign category at the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) “Best of NAMA” awards show.
NAMA, the largest U.S. association for marketing and agribusiness professionals, recognized The SCN Coalition for declaring Oct. 2, 2023, the first National Nematode Day. The fully integrated campaign generated awareness and action in the weeks leading up to National Nematode Day to keep SCN top of mind as farmers and their trusted advisors geared up for fall soil testing.
“Are you smarter than a nematode?” quizzes and sweepstakes encouraged farmer and agribusiness participation, digital and social promotions amplified the messages, and press releases and media outreach generated additional buzz.
Since its launch in 2018, The SCN Coalition’s media outreach efforts have generated more than 80 million potential online and print impressions, and more than 300 million potential broadcast impressions in the ag media. By 2020, this awareness had already moved 18% more farmers to actively manage SCN, based on a soybean checkoff-funded survey of 950 farmers.
A successful public/private partnership
The SCN Coalition includes university scientists in 28 states and Ontario, grower checkoff organizations such as the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), United Soybean Board (USB) and state soybean promotion boards, as well as partners in the private sector, including BASF, Bayer, Growmark, Nufarm, Pioneer (Corteva), Syngenta, UPL Ltd., Valent and Winfield United.
“A coordinated effort from many committed partners is making a big difference for soybean farmers,” says Carl Bradley, Extension plant pathologist at University of Kentucky, and one of the leaders of The SCN Coalition. “National Nematode Day was an opportunity to spread the message about the importance of active SCN management, as well as other parasitic nematodes that impact soybean production such as Southern root-knot, reniform and lesion nematodes.”
George Bird, nematologist at Michigan State University and one of the leaders of The SCN Coalition, says because of the contributions from public and private partners, more soybean farmers are hearing about the importance of soil testing and active SCN management. “SCN is too big of an issue for any one organization to tackle,” he said. “Together, we can make an impact on the nematode challenges farmers face.”
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About The SCN Coalition
The SCN Coalition is a public/checkoff/private partnership formed to increase the number of farmers who are actively managing SCN. Our goal is to increase soybean farmers’ profit potential and realize higher yields. Partners in The SCN Coalition include university scientists from 28 states and Ontario, grower checkoff organizations, including the North Central Soybean Research Program, United Soybean Board and several state soybean promotion boards, and corporate partners including BASF, Bayer, Growmark, Nufarm, Pioneer (Corteva), Syngenta, UPL Ltd., Valent and Winfield United.
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