The project can be dissected in FOUR major components:

1) Historical component: Soybean contest winners for yield will be identified as potential collaborators (at least 4 farmers across diverse regions). Historical soybean information (last 5 yrs) on high-yielding soybean systems will be recorded from these farmers in order to better understand interaction of production practices x weather x economic scenarios from the most recent years.

2) Baseline Information: Characterize all production practices including input usage, field operation timing, and other activities implemented by the farmer in the current growing season (1st year of the project).
Example of production practices potentially to be identified in a contest winner’s farmer including input usage, field operation timing, and other activities. Specific examples may include: 1) Planting date prior to May 10; 2) Narrow row spacing (15”-7.5”); 3) Seeding rates ranged from 130 to 160 thousand per acre; 4) Seed treatment; 5) Application of foliar fungicides/ insecticides when required (based on disease infestation and insect incidence, # insects per plant); 6) Apply nutrients, P, K, S, when soil testing is low.

3) Soybean Yield Dissection: Extensively characterize soil, weather, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and main yield limiting factors during the current growing season.

4) Outreach:
A multifaceted extension and outreach program will include participation from faculty in cooperation with grower organizations, and producers. Information from this study will be presented at extension activities and the topics tailored to each specific audience. Presenting in field days, production schools, summer tours, and grower-oriented meetings will be key-component of this proposal. The PI will collaborate with Area Agronomists, Kansas Soybean, and agriculture and natural resources extension agents to identify farmers for this project and the needs of local clientele. All the information produced from this study will be available via the utilization of diverse communication venues
(websites, social media, extension programming, radio, television interviews, and press).

Update:
Field sites were established for 2018, 4 field sites across the state.
For all locations, reports presenting initial conditions and current NDVI information (in-season changes) were presented and shared with all farmers participated on this study (e.g., landscape information, satellite imagery, soil characterization from all fields). Yield data is being currently processed for all locations. Attached is a full complete report for including all four sites carried out during the 2018 growing season.

View uploaded report