I expect to provide improved management information as to the use of whole plant health, intensive farming techniques, and BMPs on soybean in Kansas. Recent research has identified several areas of need as to genetic differences in response to intensive management, the economics and effectiveness of using low-cost fungicide / insecticide alternatives in a production system, and refining several areas of production that are not well understood. This project will then take research findings to the field in simple strip plots to adjust them to real-world situations and speed acceptance in the farm community

Objective 1. Evaluate the use and effect of biologicals in soybean production. Evaluate existing and historical biological control methods such as Dipel to maintain low levels of pests such as pod worms. Also use indirect control methods such as trap crops. There are many biologicals now available for use including Dipel. Two years of research indicate that use of this biological in conjunction with insecticide can give season long control of soybean pod worms.

Objective 2. Development of practical IPM.

Use a blend of modern and historical techniques to determine when pests are established and populations are growing in an attempt to maintain low populations that will not reach treatment threshold levels. Research in 2021 indicates that we can get early detection of disease and insects through use of light traps and early observation, but scouting the crop gave best indication of damage to the crop and when to apply effective control. As scouting is labor intensive we may utilize early detection as a trigger to begin scouting.

Objective 3. Are scouting models effective?

Is current scouting effective in modern agriculture? Current methods determine threshold levels for damage, but we struggle with timeliness. This ties in with Objective 2 as there is about a 2 or 3 day lag before significant yield loss begins. A third year of data will allow for regression analysis to develop yield loss models.

Objective 4. Are seed treatments the future?

We could talk for hours about seed treatment technology, effectiveness, and what could be accomplished with modern treatments. Research will be conducted to determine needs and trends, but in a word, YES, seed treatments work and are needed. We now have very complex seed treatments that include fungicide, insecticide, micro nutrients, biologicals, hormone, and other additive yield enhancing treatments. It is extremely difficult to know if everything is needed every year, but the concept seems to be to add everything that may eventually be needed to insure 100 bushel soybean. It is of interest to note that some states are now considering closer regulation of these treatments.

I expect to provide improved management information as to the use of biologicals, integrated pest management methods, scouting techniques, and seed treatment use on soybean in Kansas. Recent research has identified several areas of need as to management of insect and disease in intensive management of soybean, the economics and effectiveness of using low-
We will evaluate cost effective fungicide / insecticide alternatives in a production system, and refine several areas of production that are not well understood. This project will then take research findings to the field in simple strip plots to adjust them to real world situations and speed acceptance in the farm community

Update:
Mid Year Report for Kansas Soybean Commission September 15, 2022
The Technology, Including Traits and Inputs Needed to Produce a Modern Soybean Crop.

James H. Long Ph.D.

Activity for the six months ending August 31, 2022, in the project includes land preparation, fertilization, herbicide application and planting of plots. Development of methods such as in crop, disease and insect models has begun. Irrigated plots were planted the on April 24 wth adequate stands. Non-irrigated soybean were planted June 4 to moisture. Both non-irrigated and Irrigated soybean were planted with a plot grain drill in 7-inch rows. Little rain has been received since June 10 and non irrigated yields are going to be very low for this area.
Insects began to show up in numbers in trap/sentinel crops and light traps in late July with leaf feeding insects and Septoria leaf disease making first appearance at that time. Soybean pod worm eggs began to show up in a few sentinel plots, with frogeye leaf spot showing in August 1. In mid August, damage to soybean pods from soybean pod worm began to occur in scattered fields. By August 15, moderate damage appeared and treatment was made to all plots receiving both insecticide and fungicide treatments. Frogeye leaf spot was occurring on approximately 10 percent of leaves (bottom of canopy) with 20 percent leaf coverage. Black light traps and sentinel plots both showed increased insect activity during this time.

Objective 1- Evaluating Biologicals.
Seed, fertilizer, and pesticides have been obtained. Plots were laid out and fertilizer and grass and broadleaf herbicide was applied preplant incorporated. Selected treatment plots were treated with Dipel at R1/R2 to determine its effect on building soybean insect populations. This would have been in early August in research plots. Dipel reduced worm levels in the plots during the early pod set and delayed insecticide application.

Objective 2 – Development of practical IPM guidelines.
Seed, fertilizer, and pesticides have been obtained. Ground was fertilized and herbicide was applied before planting. All treatments have been made and sentinel and trap crops as well as scouting and black light traps have been deployed and used to determine insect and disease levels. Drought during pod fill affected non-irrigated soybean and pest populations in fields and plots. Pod worms showed in late July then populations decreased during a very hot and dry period from late July until mid August. Populations then began to increase to treatable levels in late August. Little rain was received after June 10.


Objective 3. – Are our scouting models accurate enough for modern extensive agriculture?
Seed and supplies have been bought and plot ground has been fertilized and worked prior to planting. Plots were planted in late April and early June and scouting began in late June with first appearance of moths in the canopy in mid July. Application of insecticide treatments were made at first appearance, early infestation and at soybean pod worm threshold levels. In other treatments, first applications were made at 3-, 6- and 9-day intervals after pod worm threshold levels to mimic application delays.

Objective 4. Are seed treatments the wave of the future?
All seed and supplies have been obtained and ground has been fertilized, worked and is now ready to plant. Varying seed treatments were utilized on research plots to best determine their effect on stand and grain yield. Plots are now at R4/5 maturity levels.

Update:
Ending Report for Kansas Soybean Commission. April 15, 2023
The Technology, Including Traits and Inputs Needed to Produce a Modern Soybean Crop.
James H. Long Ph.D.
Activity for the three years ending, April 15, 2023, in the project includes land preparation, fertilization, herbicide application and planting of plots. Development of methods such as in crop, disease and insect models has begun. Irrigated plots were planted the last week of April, wth adequate stands. Non-irrigated soybean were planted in late May to moisture. Both non-irrigated and Irrigated soybean were planted with a plot grain drill in 7-inch rows. Weather patterns showed both historical drought and flood during this 3 year period and we had both very poor and excellent yields. Insects began to show up in numbers in trap/sentinel crops and light traps in July with leaf feeding insects and Septoria leaf disease making first appearance at that time. Soybean pod worm eggs began to show up in a few sentinel plots, with frogeye leaf spot showing in August. In mid August, damage to soybean pods from soybean pod worm began to occur in scattered fields. By August 15, moderate damage appeared and treatment was made to all plots receiving both insecticide. Frogeye leaf spot was occurring on approximately 10 percent of leaves (bottom of canopy) with 20 percent leaf coverage. Black light traps and sentinel plots both showed increased insect activity during this time. Insecticides used included carbaryl, and Bacillus thuringiencis, while no fungicides were used, as no disease reached treatment levels in these years.

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This research will enable producers to better utilize production techniques and methods for producing a modern soybean crop. The project uses already existing production methods in more efficient ways that will prevent yield loss and/or increase grain yields.