ILSoyAdvisor Blog

Manganese deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency seen in soybeans in Michigan. The manganese deficiency symptoms depicted in photos 1 and 2 are likely to occur on muck or dark-colored sands with pH levels above 5.8 and lakebed or out-wash soils having pH levels above 6.5. Lately, I’ve seen more situations where manganese deficiency symptoms are occurring on coarse-textured soils having low organic matter levels. In these cases, the...

Dr. Fred Below at the University of Illinois been conducting his Six Secrets of Soybean Success research project at sites across Illinois for the past four years. Now entering its fifth season, his research has focused on an omission strategy approach where he stacked a number of technologies together and then eliminated them one at a time to see which technologies had the most impact. Below’s work examined six factors with the greatest...

Choosing the right soybean planting date, maturity groups and plant populations is like piecing together a puzzle. But with understanding and common sense it can be achieved, resulting in a higher yield and better profitability. The importance of light interception and building a plant “foundation” through early planting continue to pay dividends.

For years soybeans have been known as the crop we “plant after corn” or “plant when it’s...

To add or not to add—starters on soybeans. I would like to put this debate to bed once and for all. Over my years as an agronomist, writer and reader, we have seen articles every spring extolling the virtue of applying starters when planting soybeans. But we also receive a word of caution, because they may not increase yield or return a profit.

Now that soybeans are planted and up I noted an article posted online in Ag Professional...