Chairman, Illinois Soybean Association

Are you planting a soybean variety with aphid resistance this season?  Have a good idea what weeds may not respond to glyphosate treatments?  Got an eye on the weather for an indication of what diseases may plague your soybeans?  If your answer to any of these is “yes,” you can thank an Illinois soybean researcher.  Plain and simple, Illinois research yields useable results.

One great example is the work we have funded with soybean aphids.  From basic research into identifying resistance, to getting resistance into soybean varieties planted last season and in 2010, Illinois soybean farmers have been part of the process.  You can learn more about soybean aphids and their control in the new brochure included with this issue of the magazine.

The brochure discusses how to avoid losing yields to a soybean aphid infestation.  Typically, soybean aphids pose the greatest threat to crop yields during early to full flowering.  You may see significantly stunted plant growth, as well as reduced pod and seed counts.

Thankfully, varieties are being developed that carry the major aphid resistance genes Rag1 and Rag2 – discoveries made by researchers at the University of Illinois.  In fact, Illinois researchers hold up soybean aphid resistant variety development as a prime example of how public and private research partnerships pay off.

Researchers would like to work in the same magic with other diseases.  A major disease challenge under investigation is Sclerotinia stem rot, also known as white mold.  Glen Hartman, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant pathologist at the University of Illinois discusses his activities, as well as provides some tips of what to watch for during the current growing season.

Similarly, Illinois soybean farmers should be on the lookout for glyphosate-resistant marestail and waterhemp this year.  Bryan Young, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale weed specialist, has recommendations for those tough weeds and general weed management in this issue.

And while it is great to read about research findings, it is more beneficial when we can test products and strategies on our own farms.  The ISA’s 2010 Yield Challenge underway will do just that.  Farmers across the state are working in teams with various input suppliers to try and find new answers.  Read more about sponsor involvement in the pages ahead.

I think you will agree after reading through this month’s articles that research yields useable results.  I hope you have a safe and productive planting season.

-Ron Moore