Free SCN Testing for IL Soybean Farmers
Known as the billion-dollar pest, soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is reported to annually cost North American soybean producers $1.5 billion in lost yield. Even with such a large number, many farmers are unaware if or how SCN is impacting their soybean yield. This project aims to change that by providing free SCN soil sampling to understand presence, population and response to available varietal resistance. Learn More
Documenting the Extent of Resistance to Group 15 Herbicides in Illinois Waterhemp Populations
To better understand the frequency of resistance to Group 15 herbicides, this project will collect and screen waterhemp populations from Illinois soybean fields. Results will be used to provide farmers with recommendations on how best to incorporate these herbicides into integrated weed management programs. Resistant populations will be used in subsequent research to identify the gene(s) conferring the metabolism-based resistance. Learn More
Injury Potential to Very Early-Planted Soybean from Various Soil-Residual Herbicides / Active Ingredients
While interest in planting soybeans earlier continues to increase, concerns around preemergence (PRE) herbicide injury to emerging seedlings continue to linger. Early planting often means cold, wet soil conditions that can delay seed germination and prolong plant emergence. These conditions can reduce the plant’s ability to metabolize PRE herbicides and result in crop injury. This project will test several herbicides and classes of chemistry to better understand which are more prone to cause crop injury under early planting conditions. Learn More
Benchmarking and Integrating Soil Health, Water Quality and Climate-Smart Footprints of Illinois Soybeans
This multi-year project will identify soil health, water quality and climate footprint best practices and metrics across regions and cropping systems (soy and double-cropped wheat, soy rotated with corn). Findings will inform practice-based recommendations that protect soil health and water quality, as well as provide insights farmers can use as they navigate carbon markets. Learn More
Assessing Insect Pest Effects on Yield and ROI of Pest Control Inputs
This multi-year project aims to identify the insect pests affecting Illinois soybean crops, their impact on soybean yield and the return on investment of control mechanisms. It will help determine threshold levels for insect pests responsible for reducing grain quality and yield, as well as develop integrated pest management recommendations. Learn More
Enhancing the Profitability of Wheat-Soybean Double Cropping
Double cropping soybeans after winter wheat is an attractive approach to enhancing profitability in Midwest crop rotations and improving soil health. To capitalize on this cropping system, this project will identify high-yielding winter wheat varieties that can be harvested earlier and enable earlier planting of double-crop soybeans to maximize soybean yield potential. Learn More
Understanding the Importance of Cover Crop Planting Date in Illinois Row Crop Production
To encourage farmers to include more cover crops within their cropping systems, this project is comparing 1) different cereal rye seeding dates and rates before soybean, and 2) different planting dates of two clover species after soybean harvest and ahead of corn. Farmers will gain better insights into cover crop planting and seeding rate recommendations and best management practices. Learn More
Integrated Management Strategies for Maximizing Soybean Production in Conservation Tillage Systems
To help more farmers feel confident implementing conservation tillage systems, this project intends to gain insights into the interactions across soil types, starter fertilizer, tillage systems and row spacings and how they affect soybean growth, nutrient uptake, and seed yield and quality. The results of this multi-year project will enable more farmers to optimize soybean production under conservation tillage systems while preserving water and soil resources. Learn More
How this research benefits the farmer
Understanding the presence of Group 15-resistant waterhemp will give farmers, their advisors and Extension the ability to refine integrated weed management recommendations to help slow resistance development in more waterhemp populations. After gaining a better understanding of how extensive Group 15 resistance is in Illinois waterhemp populations, researchers intend to conduct a genome-wide association study to identify the gene(s) responsible for Group 15 resistance. This data could lead to rapid molecular assays for future resistance diagnosis.
Why this research is important
Waterhemp populations in Illinois have evolved resistance to herbicides from more site-of-action-groups than any other weed species. The confirmation of resistance to Group 15 herbicides in 2019 makes managing this weed one of the most daunting challengesIllinois soybean farmers face. Noticing potential resistance to this group of chemistry is more difficult because they are residual herbicides, and resistance could exhibit as shorter length of control rather than lack of control common with other classes of chemistry. In addition, fields can contain waterhemp populations resistant to multiple herbicide groups, with some plants carrying genes resistant to more than one herbicide [...]
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