Harvest to High Yields: Combine Residue’s Impact on Wheat and Double Crop Soybeans
High yield for wheat and double crop soybeans starts now with the combine. Illinois Soybean Association Soy Envoy, Kelly Robertson, shares insight into preparing the combine to roll through the field and residue management for timely and even emergence of wheat and double crop soybeans.
Soybean Height Is Not an Indicator of Growth Stage
ISA Soy Envoy, Kelly Robertson, compares two soybean plants from the same field and demonstrates how height is not a good indicator of growth stage.
Shorter Corn this Year?
Have you observed shorter corn this year? ISA Soy Envoy, Kelly Robertson, shares several factors that can lead to shorter-than-normal corn and how it impacts yield.
Corn Pollination Progress
ISA Soy Envoy, Kelly Robertson, reports on corn pollination from southern Illinois and shares concern about the heat and delayed silk emergence.
Remember G.O.A.L at Planting: GET OUT AND LOOK
Planting season is over for many, but a good reminder is to always Get Out and Look…or G.O.A.L. for short. Soy Envoy Kelly Robertson shares a simple way to check your planter and evaluate how the seed is going in the ground.
Soil Fertility and Soybean Yields with Kelly Robertson
Many farmers apply all of their fertilizer before the corn crop; however, Soy Envoy Kelly Robertson recommends making a potash application before the soybean crop to achieve high yields.
“Thinking Agronomy” – Be Thinkers Before People of Action
Kelly Robertson reflects on a class he took a few years back in which the instructor encouraged them to be "thinkers" first and then be “people of action” and introduced the "Possible/Plausible/Probable" concept.
Sufficient Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN) versus Build Maintain Fertility Programs
It can be argued that SLAN and Build/Maintain can be similar in some ways, both making an application of fertilizer to keep soil test levels where they are and feed the crop to be grown. However, SLAN is geared more towards achieving a fertility level where maximum yield can be obtained in that year where Build/Maintain is trying to keep the soil test levels from dropping.
Basic Cation Saturation Ratios (BCSR), Soil Balancing, Desired Values and Ratios
The scientific community mostly disregards the BCSR philosophy/theory; however, some farmers, crop consultants, sustainable ag proponents and commercial soil-testing laboratories still use BCSR to guide their fertilizer recommendations.
What is Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)?
Using CEC to make fertility management decisions is a philosophy. There are many different philosophies that incorporate CEC into their recommendations. Many of these philosophies have some good science in them, some just enough to make them seem legit and some could be dangerous.
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