All Posts by Illinois Soybean Association
Agronomy: Fire Up Soil Quality With Cover Crops
April 11, 2014
Sustainability PracticesRecent studies show how cover crops benefit soil health, water quality and farmer profits, helping to fuel a renewed interest in using cover crops, according to Mike Plumer, coordinator, Illinois Council on Best Management Practices.
Weeds: Time to Take Action on Weeds
April 11, 2014
Weed ManagementWeed control isn’t as easy as it used to be. With the influx of genetic traits, trait stacking and multiple modes of action—not to mention sites of action—keeping weeds under control is no small task.
Agronomy: Survey Says: More Soybeans in 2014
April 10, 2014
In-Season AgronomyLast month’s ILSoyAdvisor “Quick Poll” asked about your soybean planting intentions for 2014. We’ve tallied the votes, and results reflect recent estimates from the USDA: more soybeans this year.
Health: Keeping Your Soil Engine Humming
April 09, 2014
Sustainability PracticesSoil is like an engine, helping to drive higher yields and profits. And the investments in making that engine run—seed, fertility, crop protection—aren’t small. It pays to keep that engine operating at peak performance—to occasionally look under the hood—and evaluate the overall health of the soils you farm.
Disease: Stay Safe Handling and Transporting Treated Seeds
April 09, 2014
Planting StrategiesSeed treatments offer a host of benefits for getting soybeans off to a strong start. They help preserve the yield potential of your soybean crop by promoting germination and protecting young seedlings from diseases, fungus and insects.
Plant & Soil Health: Do Soybeans Need Supplemental N?
April 04, 2014
Nutrient ManagementAre you working to break your previous yield records? If so, you’re probably asking what role fertility plays in helping to reap the rewards of a stronger soybean management system.
Agronomy: Are You Ready to Take the Challenge?
April 04, 2014
In-Season AgronomyISA’s Yield Challenge is a great way to push your soybean production to new levels and experiment with new production practices on your farm. In fact, most winners from previous years say they take what they’ve learned from their Yield Challenge plots and apply it to more acreage the following year.
Agronomy: Take a Look Back to Tap into the Future
March 19, 2014
In-Season AgronomySoybeans once flew under the radar. Not anymore. This magical bean has come a long way since its quiet start in Illinois 100 years ago; times and technologies have changed significantly and will continue to do so.
Weeds: Wrangle Weeds, Before They Outsmart You
March 18, 2014
Weed ManagementHow much profit potential are you willing to lose to weeds in 2014? It’s easy to underestimate the amount of yield loss to weeds, but when they compete with your crops for sunlight, moisture and nutrients, the effects of even a small patch can add up.
Agronomy: Is It Planting Time or Just Planting Fever?
March 17, 2014
Planting StrategiesThere’s no telling how spring 2014 will go. In 2012, beans were planted very early; in 2013, very late. The important lesson learned is that the days of planting by the calendar are over.