Five Factors Can Impact Soybean Yield
By Karen Simon
At this time of year, as soybean growers sit down at their desks to plan their strategy for the 2010 growing season, every grower’s goal is to maximize …
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Ever since I moved to Iowa in 2003 I have worked extensively on the importance of soybean growth and development and its correlation to yield. Through the soybean checkoff and the Iowa Soybean Association we have been able to address what it takes to raise high yielding soybean, and where we need to focus our research in the future to move the yield potential up even further. One thing that has been interesting to work on is the importance of early vegetative growth. Previously, we had never really paid much attention to what is happening prior to flowering, but that seems to be a mistake.
I do not believe that there are any farmers in Iowa that have not heard me talking about the importance of soybean planting date. And there is a reason. Soybean planting date is in some way our “soybean yield stimulus package”. By planting early we will stimulate the plant to achieve a higher yield potential. Unfortunately, we are not doing a good enough job. Our data shows that we need to be done planting soybean anywhere in Iowa by May 15 but based on USDA and the planting progress data over the last 5 years we often only have 50% of our acres planted by that day.
One of the major reasons why early planting is so important is we want to be sure the plant intercept as much solar radiation as possible since a soybean plant is a source limited plant. That means there is a close relationship between seasonal canopy photosynthesis and yield. So, by shorting our growing season we will reduce the yield. That is also why I do not recommend you to plant in 30 inch rows – the canopy closure takes too long time if there is some kind of a stress. Read the full story »
The American soybean industry has changed dramatically since soybean rust was found on our shores in late 2004 – and so has our understanding of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the fungal pathogen that causes the disease.
Five years …
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 1 billion people go hungry every day, and with the United Nations (UN) predicting the population to top 9 billion by 2050 …
2010 Yield Challenge Offers Incentives
If looking for ways to increase soybean yields isn’t enough persuasion to enter the 2010 Yield Challenge, perhaps the participation incentives and final rewards will be. Participants can expect not only …
Universities Offer Valuable 2010 Yield Challenge Input
Credible, comprehensive data collection is one of the primary goals of the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) 2010 Yield Challenge. So ISA is relying on several university researchers and crop …
FFA an Innovative 2010 Yield Challenge Component
Illinois FFA student chapters are invited to join the 2010 Yield Challenge this year, and find ways to express their innovative ideas for increasing soybean yields. Several across the …
Community Colleges Offer Developmental Element
Just as farm teams develop baseball talent to feed into the major leagues, community college “farm teams” may offer a unique element of expertise for the 2010 Yield Challenge. Several teams …
Annual New Products List Signifies USB’s Commitment to Driving Soy Demand Through New Uses
Demonstrating its commitment to developing new industrial and consumer products that contain U.S. soy, the United Soybean Board (USB) recently released its …
The holidays are over and winter is in full swing. This is the time we start thinking about our hopes, dreams and goals for the New Year. I usually write down a few goals and …
Four soybean farmer-leaders from Iowa and Illinois have been recognized for their efforts by being named to national positions on the United Soybean Board (USB) and the American Soybean Association (ASA) executive committees.
For USB, Jim …
It is really difficult to imagine that after the flood in 2008 the next growing season would be as challenging as it was. Some would even say it was more challenging and I know for …
Missouri soybean farmer Kip Cullers amazed the world with his record soybean yield of 139 bushels per acre in 2006. He shocked the farming community in 2007 with another world record soybean yield of 154 …
New Illinois Lessons Tie Students to Soy
Illinois teachers have a new set of lessons at their fingertips to educate students about soybeans. The “Bean Team” DVD series debuted this fall in the state and is …
By LeAnn Strother
The soybean and biodiesel industries are by nature closely tied. Soybeans are abundant and make a first-rate feedstock for fuel. Biodiesel adds approximately 25 cents per bushel to the price of whole soybeans, …
2009-2010 Marketing Year Could Be Different
Even though fall harvest has been off to a slow start in many parts of the country, the 2008-2009 marketing year for U.S. soy exports showed no signs of slowing …
