  A new sum rule determines the nucleon sigma term by the \pi N elastic
scattering threshold parameters alone. This "threshold" value of \sigma(2\mu^2)
provides an independent check of existing values obtained from global
dispersive analyses, and also provides a realistic error assignment. Employing
a recent analysis of low energy (T_\pi < 100 MeV) \pi N data our sum rule
implies \sigma(2\mu^2) = 71\pm 9 MeV.
