FUNDED BY THE ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION CHECKOFF PROGRAM.

Chad Kalaher

Has the Cool, Wet Weather This Spring Affected Soybean Nodulation?

It takes 4 to 5 pounds of nitrogen to produce a bushel of soybeans. For example, a 70 bushel-per-acre soybean crop requires about 300 pounds per acre of nitrogen for stover and grain production. Of this, approximately 75 percent is removed with the grain harvest. Soybeans actually require more nitrogen than corn—a fact that is often overlooked or not addressed.  Much of soybeans’ nitrogen needs are met by soil bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum, often referred to as rhizobia, in a process known as nitrogen fixation through nodulation of soybean roots.  Although this symbiotic relationship provides a significant amount of nitrogen [...]

By |June 2, 2017|

Time to think about Brown Spot control

Septoria brown spot (SBS) is the second biggest disease threat to soybean yield after soybean cyst nematode. Since SBS can potentially reduce soybean yield more than most farmers and agronomists realize, consider additional attention and control measures to manage this disease. SBS, also known as brown spot, is a fungal leaf spot caused by Septoria glycines, a common disease of soybeans not only in Illinois, but throughout the entire Corn Belt. Nearly every soybean field in Illinois experiences some level of brown spot infection annually. However, for years none of us considered this disease a real threat to yield. [...]

By |May 3, 2017|

Early-Planted Soybeans Prove to be Profitable

Have you ever considered planting soybeans at the same time as corn? What about before corn? Most farmers don’t consider these options because it costs more to plant an acre of corn than it does soybeans, and the risk of lower yield from delayed corn planting is always higher. Each year, Beck’s PFR Practical Farm Research® (PFR™) team conducts a planting date study of both corn and soybeans to determine the optimal window for planting. The data has consistently shown that the optimum planting date window for soybeans is from late April to early May, as shown below. Several [...]

By |April 5, 2017|

Understanding a Soil Test Report

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 stewardship. Applying fertilizer without accurate soil testing can’t be achieved with a “spread by crop removal” approach. This is because some nutrients, such as pH and boron (B), may be yield-limiting and remain unaddressed. After [...]

By |February 24, 2017|
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