Weed control has gotten tougher and more complicated over the past 10 years. When Roundup Ready® soybeans were first introduced back in 1996, 20 years ago, glyphosate was a one-stop weed control solution. One or two passes were all that it took. But it didn’t take long for weeds to become resistant to glyphosate. The first species, rigid ryegrass, already showed resistance in 1996, Italian ryegrass developed resistance in 2001 and perennial...
All Posts from February 2017
February 27, 2017 |
February 24, 2017 Understanding a soil test is an important element of farming and not as hard as you think. Accurate soil sampling and soil test reports continue to be one of the most valuable pieces of information for evaluating nutrient needs and identifying possible yield-limiting fertility factors. Soil test data are critical for developing economic fertility plans while maximizing return on investment, crop productivity and environmental... |
February 22, 2017 Soybeans require nitrogen and lots of it because it’s a protein crop and proteins contain 16% nitrogen. For decades we have relied on the soybean plant’s ability as a legume to fix its own nitrogen. And it can fix a lot, with the rest supplied by the soil. But as soybean yields ratchet upwards into the 70- and 80-bushel range in whole fields, nitrogen will become increasingly limiting. The challenge to making a nitrogen recommendation... |
February 22, 2017 If I were to make a guess, I would say that 80% or more of the soybean seed sold today is treated with both a fungicide and insecticide. In the case of some individual seed companies it may be near 100%, because they want to treat all soybean seed going out the door. I can see a seed company’s concerns from their perspective—growers are reducing seed rates to lower seed cost, as most realize that a final stand of 100,000 to 110,000... |
February 20, 2017 ISA Names First CCA Soybean Master Adviser New Checkoff-Funded Award Recognizes Dedication to Better Soybean Management |
February 20, 2017 SCN and SDS represent large threats to soybean production in Illinois. Attend the upcoming webinar “Solutions to effectively manage SCN and SDS” sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association and ILSoyAdvisor. Presenters will be Jason Bond, plant pathologist from Southern Illinois... |