Over the past few years, the Illinois Soybean Association has been working with the Iowa On-Farm Network (OFN) to evaluate promising production practices. The two most common concepts tested were population and row spacing, which are easy to implement in an on-farm scenario. One of the requirements for participating is collecting as-planted and yield maps. Along the way data is collected on plant stand after emergence and an aerial image of...
All Posts from 2018
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April 01, 2018 |
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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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