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March 12, 2018 In southern Illinois continuous soybean rotation has been in practice for some time. Due to the nature of our soil, soybeans have always been a better fit than corn. I have managed these acres for growers and have learned that if you can manage them carefully, beans-on-beans can be just as profitable as rotational beans. The three practices that are key to managing this rotation are weed control, soil fertility and seed selection. ... |
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March 09, 2018 Nematodes are a fact of life whether you grow corn or soybeans or other crops. Today, in my opinion, nematodes are one agronomic issue growers don't know enough about. Did you know that 4 out of 5 creatures on planet earth are nematodes? Here are some other interesting facts about nematodes. What are nematodes? Nematodes are tiny, colorless, threadlike, unsegmented roundworms but aren’t related to earthworms.... |
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March 08, 2018 Many growers can save money by dropping soybean seeding rates in 2018. We have seen a big decline in soybean seeding rates over the last three decades. Growers were dropping 200,000+. Then Roundup Ready® was released and we had to depend less on row spacing and population to control weeds and rates dropped to 160,000 to 180,000. Then seed costs went up and seed was being sold at 140,000 seeds per unit and seed rates dropped... |
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March 07, 2018 Sulfur and boron are increasingly important nutrients for soybeans. So, are soil and tissue tests reliable measures? Soil testing is a proven tool for evaluating nutrient availability. In Illinois, the established trend for many is to test every four years, focusing on pH, phosphorus and potassium. But plant growth also requires an adequate supply of several other nutrients. Some assume that Illinois soils do not require micronutrient... |
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March 07, 2018 Will Brinton, Ph.D., explains the importance of various soil tests and how they relate to each other for overall soil health and productivity. He also discusses nutrient cycling and its role in soil health. Soil Health
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March 06, 2018 Is some of the yield gap we see in soybeans today due to a lack of nitrogen? For the past 4 or 5 years we have been hearing a lot about applying nitrogen (N) on soybeans and we still don’t have a clear direction. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. And we still don’t have a clear idea of the best timing, form or amount to apply and until we do, guaranteeing a return on investment isn’t very likely. We do know a couple... |