These Innovators Make Water Innovation Personal
What will drive the next innovations in agricultural water technology? The February issue of Soy Perspectives highlights three individuals whose personal experiences drove them to develop new solutions to manage water more efficiently now and in the future. When “Life-Giving” River Runs Dry Iran’s Zayandeh-Rood river may literally mean ‘life-giving,’ but its lower reaches began drying up decades ago due to years of mismanagement and overuse. One river section flowed through Esfahani, hometown of Amin Afzal, who later led a group of Pennsylvania State University researchers working on a breakthrough moisture sensor. “The river had a large impact on [...]
Upcoming Technology Choices in Soybeans
There is a lot of talk about the soybean technology trait options growers can choose from in the upcoming years. Between Round Up Ready 2 Xtend®, Round Up Ready 2 Yield®, LibertyLink® and LibertyLink® GT27 all approved for production as well Enlist E3™, Xtend Flex® and MGI (Mesotrione, Glufosinate, and Isoxaflutole) currently in route for foreign approval there are enough choices to make any grower look at their options a little more in depth than in years past. With all these choices, how do growers decide which platform is best for their operation? Going back to the basics and [...]
Better Beans Makes Big Impact in Champaign
The Better Beans Series event in Champaign-Urbana was held on February 21, 2019, at the iHotel and Conference Center. The event was brought to producers by the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program in partnership with the CCA Soy Envoy program and Ehler Brothers Co. based in Thomasboro, Illinois. Speakers provided useful information for increasing soybean production in 2019 and beyond to area farmers and industry professionals. The day began with a hot breakfast sponsored by Illinois Soybean Association corporate sponsor, Stoller USA. Kris Ehler, CCA Soy Envoy and sales agronomist with Ehler Bros. Co., kicked off the sessions and [...]
WEBINAR: Creating a System for Soybean Yield Success
Over the past several years we’ve seen a consistent trend of increasing soybean yields in Illinois. While admittedly there can be a lot of frustrations in soybean management, there are also several strategies that have emerged to increase the likelihood of soybean success, year in and year out. This webinar will focus on the practices that have emerged from years of research and working with high yield growers across the U.S. We hope viewers will walk away with a clearer picture of how to continue capitalizing on the opportunities that exist with greater soybean management. 1 CEU in Crop [...]
Sulfur Needs for Soybean Growth
One of the major nutrients needed for crop growth is sulfur (S). In the past nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were considered the major nutrients. Sulfur emissions from coal fired power plants supplied more sulfur than needed for good crop growth. But in my business as an independent crop consultant we have been recommending sulfur for many years now. I started consulting in 2006, and in those days we seldom saw the characteristic yellow striping of sulfur deficiency in plant leaves. Over the years we have seen sulfur deficiency symptoms gradually increase to the point that sulfur deficiency is a [...]
Better Beans Series – Peoria, IL
The fourth Better Bean Series (BBS) for the 2019 season was held Feb. 19, 2019 in Peoria, Ill. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) and American Farmland Trust (AFT). The goal of the event was to look at the sustainability and profitability of modern soybean production for growers who adopt conservation practices. Today’s food companies and consumers are increasingly looking for food that is nutritious, safe and produced sustainably without any lasting impact on our environment. And today’s growers are good stewards of the land and resources they manage, which sustains them and their families. [...]
Better Beans Series Goes West – Quincy, IL
The third Better Bean Series (BBS) event of the 2019 season was held on Wednesday, February 13, in Quincy, Illinois. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association and soybean checkoff program, in partnership with Prairieland FS, Inc. The goal of the BBS is to “go local,” and bring soybean management information to growers where they live and farm. The program was filled with useful information and featured expert speakers and panelists. The program included: Determining your high yield equation for soybeans with Dan Maggart, Agronomic Services Manager, Prairieland FS, Inc. Setting the foundation for yield success with [...]
What Effect Will Cold Temperatures Have on Pests and Pathogens?
Co-authored by Nathan Kleczeski and Nick Seiter, University of Illinois. Many in the Illinois agricultural community are wondering what effects the recent extreme cold might have on pests and pathogens. While it would be nice if the cold temperatures we are experiencing could help to reduce our potential for pest damage, past experience tells us that the most serious pests we deal with are unlikely to be impacted much by these conditions. Many of the pathogens and insect pests that commonly affect field crops in Illinois are well adapted to survive our winter conditions. In many cases, pathogens produce [...]
Selecting Soybean Maturities
This article was originally written for the "Burrus Buzz." Several industry experts have been urging growers to plant soybeans earlier and earlier. There is substantial data and on-farm experience to support this logic, however, one remaining question for many growers is, “Should I change maturities for an earlier planting date?” On a recent Twitter poll posted by ILSoyAdvisor, they asked, “If you are planting soybeans in April, how are you going to choose your maturity group?” Given three possible responses, 33% of respondents chose “Same as for May planting,” 15% selected “Shorter for early harvest,” and 52% opted for [...]
Soybean Breeding Today
Soybeans have been grown in the United States since 1851 when Dr. Benjamin Franklin Edwards received a packet of seeds from a Japanese sailor. He gave them to his friend John H. Lea who planted them in his garden in Alton, Illinois. From there, soybean cultivation spread across the Midwest, with beans initially being used as a forage crop for livestock. In 1904 George Washington Carver discovered the utility of soybeans as a source of protein and oil, their benefits to soil health and their value in crop rotation. Resource shortages during World War II greatly increased the demand [...]
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