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Soybean yields are setting new records in Illinois and other states. Genetic gain has increased from one-third to two-thirds bu/A per year. Adoption of better management since 2010 has led to an addition gain of nearly 1.5 bu/A per year on top of genetic gain. Growers in Illinois have done a great job increasing soybean yields and now growing soybeans is very competitive with the other choice—corn. In 2018, 65 bu/A was the average soybean yield in the state, a new high!

 

But we can’t rest on our laurels. We, meaning growers and agronomists, need to work together to take soybean yields to the next level, which may be 80 bu/A. This is 15 bu/A greater than the 65 bushels we accepted as the best we could do 10 – 15 years ago.

 

What we know works: Plenty of research both on-farm and at universities has taught us that the keys to high yield, substantiated by Dr. Fred Below and his Six Secrets of Soybean Success, include:

All of us agree that adoption of these practices has contributed to higher soybean yields across the state. But many of us are also wondering what are the next best practices that will add another 10 bu/A and take some growers from 80 to 90 bushels. It is very exciting thinking about the possibilities.

 

What may be coming: To take yield to the next level we will need new tactics. We know that at the current rate of genetic gain of 0.67 bu/A per year, in a decade breeding should add another 6 to 7 bushels. We also know that yield is essentially determined by number of pods and seeds per acre (while seeds per pod and seed weight are relatively stable and unchanged). 

 

Since adding pod numbers per acre is the driver to increasing yield that should be the focus. Dr. Below said that each additional seed-bearing pod added to a plant adds more bushels per acre. So, to add 10 to 12 more bushels we only need to keep 5 to 6 more pods on a plant. Seems easy enough, right!? Soybeans can potentially produce several hundred pods on a plant but, unfortunately, they only keep a third to half of them. 

 

So, the current thoughts on increasing pod count, beyond the above six could include: 

We are all looking for the next great practice or product to take soybean yield to the next level, and it will take innovative farmers and industry to find these next best practices. Send me an email if you have a great idea you are testing and won’t mind sharing.