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Review AccountStart the Fight Against White Mold in the Fall
Oct 08, 2025
The best time to fight next season’s white mold is this fall, and Contans™ is the fungicide most recommended by your Federated Agronomists, according to Mike Slater, ag sales rep at Federated’s Isanti location.
This past season’s wet weather “brought back the ‘fun’ disease of white mold,” said Slater. It was easy to forget about the sclerotia residing in the soils (for up to 10 years!) these past few summers where lack of rain was the main issue.
But, white mold hit full force this year, with “yield hits of 50% or more where white mold killed the plants, causing early pod abortions,” said Slater.
Slater described the disease: The “tiny mushrooms” formed by sclerotia in the soil are called apothecia, which are formed when the conditions – like those of this growing season – are favorable. The apothecia release millions of spores that infect the soybean plant, which eventually dies and causes new sclerotia to form and fall back into the soil.
“Combatting white mold is a systems approach; there is no silver bullet that will cure it,” Slater said, but tougher white mold areas will benefit from a fall application of Contans fungicide. (It can be applied in the spring, too, but “fall is best.”)
Contans attacks the sclerotia on the soil surface, preventing them from forming apothecia and releasing spores. A fall- (or spring-) applied fungicide combined with a white-mold tolerant hybrid as well as a foliar fungicide in season provide the best combination to fight off white mold.
Contans is applied at 1-2 lb./ac. depending upon the severity of the white mold. Slater offered this important note: Contans is a dry granular product that must be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and at a temperature of about 39o F. Improper storage can harm the bacteria in the product
Talk to your Federated Agronomist about fall fungicide applications if your fields had evidence of white mold this year, and then get your Contans application scheduled soon.
This past season’s wet weather “brought back the ‘fun’ disease of white mold,” said Slater. It was easy to forget about the sclerotia residing in the soils (for up to 10 years!) these past few summers where lack of rain was the main issue.
But, white mold hit full force this year, with “yield hits of 50% or more where white mold killed the plants, causing early pod abortions,” said Slater.
Slater described the disease: The “tiny mushrooms” formed by sclerotia in the soil are called apothecia, which are formed when the conditions – like those of this growing season – are favorable. The apothecia release millions of spores that infect the soybean plant, which eventually dies and causes new sclerotia to form and fall back into the soil.
“Combatting white mold is a systems approach; there is no silver bullet that will cure it,” Slater said, but tougher white mold areas will benefit from a fall application of Contans fungicide. (It can be applied in the spring, too, but “fall is best.”)
Contans attacks the sclerotia on the soil surface, preventing them from forming apothecia and releasing spores. A fall- (or spring-) applied fungicide combined with a white-mold tolerant hybrid as well as a foliar fungicide in season provide the best combination to fight off white mold.
Contans is applied at 1-2 lb./ac. depending upon the severity of the white mold. Slater offered this important note: Contans is a dry granular product that must be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight and at a temperature of about 39o F. Improper storage can harm the bacteria in the product
Talk to your Federated Agronomist about fall fungicide applications if your fields had evidence of white mold this year, and then get your Contans application scheduled soon.