Frogeye Leaf Spot

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS) is a common foliar disease in North Carolina soybeans especially in our Northeastern and Piedmont counties. Frogeye leaf spot is a fungus caused by the pathogen Cercospora sojina. It can infect soybean plants at any stage of development, but disease most often occurs after flowering. The disease is most serious during periods of warm, humid weather which means the weather patterns over the last few weeks make for ideal frogeye leaf spot conditions. As beans begin to enter reproductive growth, scouting for FLS will be important.

 

Symptoms of FLS include small, circular to angular spots on the leaves that eventually enlarge to about ¼ inch in diameter. These spots will have light brown to translucent centers which are surrounded by reddish brown margins. Young leaves are typically more susceptible to the fungus than older leaves therefore in fields with intermittent wet periods, symptoms may appear layered within in canopy.

 

 

The most effective way to combat FLS is by planting resistant varieties. Obviously, changing the variety at this point in the season is not an option, but what you can do is take note of fields where there are FLS problems this season and select varieties resistant to FLS for these fields in future. A list of varieties with at least moderate resistance to FLS is produced each year by Dr. Jim Dunphy and can be found here. In addition, fields with FLS problems should not be planted with soybean for at least one and preferably two years after the disease was identified, as the fungus survives in crop residue. Fungicide seed treatments may also help prevent FLS.

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.