LOCATION: CENTENNIAL 1
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026 – 10:15am – 10:55am
Michael Wunsch is a plant pathologist with North Dakota State University’s Carrington Research Extension Center. His research and outreach efforts are primarily focused on addressing disease management problems in broadleaf crops grown in North Dakota, with an emphasis on improving the management of white mold in dry edible beans, soybeans, and sunflowers and improving the management of root and foliar diseases of field peas, chickpeas, and lentils. Michael obtained his B.S. from the University of Missouri and his Ph.D. from Cornell University, and he commenced his employment with the NDSU research center in Carrington in 2010. Michael is originally from Montana. Data from his research program are posted as user-friendly PDF summaries and accompanying explanatory videos at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag- hub/research-extension-centers- recs/carrington-rec/research/plant- pathology
Improving the Management of White Mold in Dry Beans and Soybeans
This presentation will provide comprehensive recommendations for improving management of white mold in soybeans and dry edible beans. All recommendations will be made with reference to multi- year, multi-location data collected in North Dakota. In soybeans, topics discussed with include impact of row spacing under white mold pressure, susceptibility to white mold relative to soybean maturity, relationship between soybean maturity length and the profitability of fungicide applications targeting white mold, optimizing fungicide application timing, and optimizing fungicide spray droplet size and spray volume. In dry beans, topics discussed will include impact of row spacing under white mold pressure, optimizing fungicide application timing, return to one versus two or three applications, optimizing the interval between applications, and optimizing spray volume.