Updated March 28, 2019:
ILSoyAdvisor.com Local Seminars (Better Beans Series) – Event Wrap-Ups
Better Beans Jacksonville, IL
On February 1st a large crowd gathered at Hamilton’s in Jacksonville, Illinois, to learn how they could maximize yield and reach the full profitability of soybeans. The event was cosponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association and Burrus® Seed. Here is what they learned:
Feed the Bean
Soybean fertility is critical for achieving high-yielding soybeans and soybeans should not be left to scavenge from the corn crop. Having adequate pH (6.2 – 6.8) can help maximize nutrient availability. P and K levels should be maintained at proper soil test levels to achieve high-yielding soybeans. Soybean plants meet their nitrogen requirement by nitrogen fixation and the soil. At yields greater than 65 bu/A there may be a need for supplemental nitrogen, although yield response is often inconsistent. Sulfur applications have shown to have a more consistent yield increase although it may depend on soil test levels and plant uptake. Micronutrients show inconsistent yield increases. Overall, soybean fertility is needed as part of a system to increase soybean yields. Growers should consider running replicated tests on their own farm when applying some of these nutrients to get the best return on investment.
New Soybean Technologies: Cure or Curse?
There continue to be weed resistance disasters in soybeans, but many have learned that even with the new herbicide technologies, a pre followed by a post herbicide system, combined with crop rotation, can provide the most consistent weed control. This herbicide program should consist of multiple, effective sites of action, full label rates, and right timing (3 R’s of weed control) to slow the selection for resistant weed biotypes. Upon foreign approval, there will be multiple types of soybean technologies to choose from, but will off-target movement of dicamba remain an issue in 2018? A review of dicamba -tolerant soybean application requirements compared to other soybean technologies opened our eyes to the challenges of this soybean technology. Ultimately, growers will have many soybean technology choices in the future that all can offer high yields and effective weed management if used responsibly.
The Six Secrets of Soybean Success
Soybeans can be profitable, so we should now focus on soybean management to achieve higher yields. Dr. Below began his presentation by asking, “What is the world record soybean yield and what is the soybean yield gap? The answer is that the current U.S. average soybean yield is about 50 bu./A and the world record soybean yield was 171.8 bushels in 2016. Illinois’ record soybean yield was 108.3 bushels in 2015. Dr. Fred Below’s Six Secrets of Soybean Success are steps many farmers are taking on their own farms to help them achieve 100-bushel soybeans. Among these secrets were weather, fertility (phosphorus), foliar protection (fungicide/insecticide), narrow row spacing and seed treatment. But, we can’t forget that Mother Nature, drainage and weed control, as well as proper pH, are crucial for soybean production.
Lastly, two growers shared their soybean production experience and Stephanie Porter listed the Top 10 Reasons for Higher Soybean Yields in 2017.
Here is what some learned:
“Adding one more pod to each soybean plant, increases yield by 2 bushels per acre.” – Jeff Bixenman
“Fertility (especially phosphorus) ahead of soybeans and narrow rows are important factors for high yields.” – Donny Marnin, Burrus Account Manager
“Feed the bean; soybeans are not weeds, and 60% of the soybean yield comes from the middle of the soybean plant (nodes 7 – 13).” – Pete Gill
“Full season soybean maturity varieties for the area often gives the highest yields.” – Dick Burns, Burrus Account Manager
“I learned the benefits of planting early and using a full seed treatment (includes PS SDS). Growing soybeans is not like it used to be.” – Ed Stallman
“All soybean herbicide technologies will yield. You don’t have to plant a particular soybean herbicide technology to get a yield bump.” – John Howell, Burrus Account Manager
Better Beans Polo and Mendota, Illinois
The Illinois Soybean Association hosted two Better Beans Series events in the northern and northwestern parts of the state. Better Beans came to Polo on January 30 in partnership with Pearl City Elevator and then hit Mendota on January 31 in partnership with Northern Partners Cooperative (NPC). The local events drew over 200 attendees, industry experts and exhibitors. The programming was excellent, tailored to the needs and challenges of growers in the area, and received many wonderful comments—with one producer even stating that it was, “One of the most beneficial meetings that he had attended for quite some time.”
Systems Approach to High Yield Soybeans
Todd Thumma (Polo, Ill.), product development agronomist with Syngenta, and Adam Day (Mendota, Ill.), NPC agronomist, started the morning off with insights into using a systems-approach to grow better beans. This included utilizing good seed treatments. They mentioned that not all seed treatments are created equally and it’s important to understand the actual benefits provided by those seed treatments. Other important things to consider when building a systems-approach for growing beans include proper variety selection, early planting, good fertility, and controlling weeds, insects and diseases.
Better Beans with Plant Nutrition
Jason Haegele, WinField United agronomy manager, and Kevin Shedd, WinField United plant nutrition and performance DSM, focused on plant nutrition. Haegele explained that soybeans require a higher level of fertility than most producers realize. This includes 245 units of nitrogen, 43 units of phosphorus, and 120 units of potassium. Typically, soybeans get the leftovers from the corn crop planted the year prior. He stated we need to focus more attention on fertilizing soybeans to gain higher yields.
Shedd then focused his attention on micronutrients, which play an important role in high-yielding soybeans. The 3 key micronutrients include manganese, sulfur and zinc. He explained that the uptake for each micronutrient varies at different stages of growth. He also noted the importance of tissue testing and analyzing—this will help ensure the correct nutrients are applied when needed.
Advanced Weed Control Systems
Vince Davis, Ph.D., technical service representative with BASF, started his session off by asking two questions:
1. What have we seen change in the last 5 years and how did you adapt to it?
2. What do you see changing in the future and how will you adapt to that?
He mentioned the “big weed players” to be concerned with, how each species is different and the importance of understanding the anatomy of each, in order to learn how to best control them. Good burndown, vertical tillage, overlapping residuals, soybean canopy and timely weed control all play a role in weed control management. Davis also spoke to the dicamba system and the importance of minimizing herbicide resistance through diverse modes of action.
Challenges and Viable Solutions in Soybean Production
Both days wrapped up with a roundtable featuring the speakers from the day, a local grower and agronomic experts from the area. The Polo, Ill. roundtable included Steve Leick, a farmer from Winnebago County who farms with his brother Mike. Steve gave us great information and insight into their farming operation. He mentioned that the way for them to learn is by utilizing small plots on their ground. This helps them to adapt better practices for their operation in the future.
The Mendota roundtable featured Will Linker, Malden, Ill., Connor Finley, Ottawa, Ill., and Jeff Bode, WinField United agronomist. Each shared their soybean management stories and experiences on their farm. There were several questions pertaining to fertility, weed management and rotation. Some producers are even considering growing beans-on-beans due to the farming economy at this time.
After the Better Bean meeting concluded, several growers stuck around for a BASF Dicamba Certification meeting with Vince Davis. Overall, these were extremely informative sessions with great comments from the those in attendance. The Illinois Soybean Association would like to thank Pearl City Elevator and Northern Partners Cooperative for their partnership and support hosting these local Better Beans events.
ILSoyAdvisor.com Soybean Summit – Springfield, Illinois – Event Wrap-Up
On January 11, Springfield, Illinois became the capitol of soybean knowledge and expertise. The ILSoyAdvisor Soybean Summit provided Illinois soybean growers with a centralized hub of information to start off the new growing season on the right foot. From field agronomists, to university researchers, to fellow farmers the day was packed full of expert soybean advice. Here’s a birds-eye view of the topics discussed throughout the day:
Soybeans: The Hits Just Keep on Coming
Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor, LLC
• As GDP per capita rises, meat consumption per capita rises with it.
• The trend in world meat consumption is exploding, especially in Asian countries.
• This trend is mimicked when it comes to protein meal and oilseeds, such as soybeans.
• The demand for soybeans continues to trend upward, while prices still are down.
• Farmers must navigate dealing with meeting the increasing demand, while also maintaining profitability.
Management Philosophies Needed to Reach 100-Bushel Soybeans
Kris Ehlers, Ehler Bros. Co.
• While harvesting 100-bushel beans requires a multi-faceted approach, there are a few key learnings from soybean retailer Kris Ehler, who has consistently been helping his farmers grow 100-bushel beans the past few years.
• To boost yield, everything farmers do during the growing season should be focused on – the number of pods on a plant, number of beans per pod, and seed size and weight.
• Ehler Bros. plot data consistently show that earlier planting dates out-yield later planting dates.
• Spend time in your fields throughout the season and be prepared to adjust strategy before there are problems.
• Rely on trusted advisors and proven research to get growers to the next level.
Boron Management for Soybean Production
Nathan Slaton, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
• Boron is an essential plant nutrient and dicots like soybeans require more boron than monocots like corn.
• Boron deficiency affects all stages of the growing cycle and the stress is multiplied when water is lacking.
• Tissue testing offers the best glimpse into catching boron deficiencies and is best evaluated by collecting trifoliate leaves at the R2 stage.
• However, there is little evidence to support that supplemental boron is the link to ‘ultra-high’ soybean yields.
Selecting Management Strategies for Producing High Yields and Profitable Soybeans
Stephanie Porter, Burrus® Hybrids and Todd Steinacher, AgriGold®
• Porter and Steinacher reviewed strategies that promote higher soybean yields and greater profitability.
• Weather, fertility, variety, foliar protection, seed treatment and row spacing are six factors that influence soybean yield.
• Five years of trials in Illinois show that the following grower-controlled management practices have the greatest impact on increasing yield: Improved soil fertility, variety selection and use of foliar protection (fungicides and insecticides).
Learning How to Optimize Yield by Resource Allocation in Soybean Production Systems
John McGillicuddy, McGillicuddy-Corrigan Agronomics
• With a fixed amount of water, sunshine and critical minerals, pod retention will be limited by at least one of these factors.
• To produce high-yielding soybeans growers must master the dynamic balance between soils, sunlight, water, population, spacing and planting date.
• Another key consideration is to make sure resources aren’t going to the parts (stems, roots, leaves) that don’t produce profit; but instead to the part (beans) that sells.
What the Illinois Yield Challenge Results Have Taught Us About Managing Soybeans
Mike Scheer and Dan Davidson
• The past eight years that ISA has been sponsoring a yield challenge have brought in nearly 1,000 entries and allowed several growers to break 100 bushels.
• One of the highlights of the program is that growers have been incentivized to try new practices and share learnings with growers across the state.
• Another benefit of the challenge is that the average yield across the state has steadily increased and soybean management practices have improved.
Habits of Financially Resilient Farmers
Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Through good and bad years, there are commonalities among the most profitable farmers.
• A study sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association explored on-farm practices that led to healthier bottom lines.
• The study found seven habits of the most successful farmers, including planting dates, on-farm investments and management practices.
Challenges and Viable Solutions in Soybean Production Farmer Roundtable
Travis Albin (Villa Grove), Jason Boehler (Litchfield), Tim Seifert (Auburn)
• Soybeans produce high yields but require more intense management than corn.
• A few practices these fellow farmers have adopted include precision technology, reduced tillage, cover crops, and exploring different seed technologies.
ILSoyAdvisor.com Local Seminars (Better Beans Series) – Event Wrap-Ups
Better Beans Jacksonville, IL
On February 1st a large crowd gathered at Hamilton’s in Jacksonville, Illinois, to learn how they could maximize yield and reach the full profitability of soybeans. The event was cosponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association and Burrus® Seed. Here is what they learned:
Feed the Bean
Soybean fertility is critical for achieving high-yielding soybeans and soybeans should not be left to scavenge from the corn crop. Having adequate pH (6.2 – 6.8) can help maximize nutrient availability. P and K levels should be maintained at proper soil test levels to achieve high-yielding soybeans. Soybean plants meet their nitrogen requirement by nitrogen fixation and the soil. At yields greater than 65 bu/A there may be a need for supplemental nitrogen, although yield response is often inconsistent. Sulfur applications have shown to have a more consistent yield increase although it may depend on soil test levels and plant uptake. Micronutrients show inconsistent yield increases. Overall, soybean fertility is needed as part of a system to increase soybean yields. Growers should consider running replicated tests on their own farm when applying some of these nutrients to get the best return on investment.
New Soybean Technologies: Cure or Curse?
There continue to be weed resistance disasters in soybeans, but many have learned that even with the new herbicide technologies, a pre followed by a post herbicide system, combined with crop rotation, can provide the most consistent weed control. This herbicide program should consist of multiple, effective sites of action, full label rates, and right timing (3 R’s of weed control) to slow the selection for resistant weed biotypes. Upon foreign approval, there will be multiple types of soybean technologies to choose from, but will off-target movement of dicamba remain an issue in 2018? A review of dicamba -tolerant soybean application requirements compared to other soybean technologies opened our eyes to the challenges of this soybean technology. Ultimately, growers will have many soybean technology choices in the future that all can offer high yields and effective weed management if used responsibly.
The Six Secrets of Soybean Success
Soybeans can be profitable, so we should now focus on soybean management to achieve higher yields. Dr. Below began his presentation by asking, “What is the world record soybean yield and what is the soybean yield gap? The answer is that the current U.S. average soybean yield is about 50 bu./A and the world record soybean yield was 171.8 bushels in 2016. Illinois’ record soybean yield was 108.3 bushels in 2015. Dr. Fred Below’s Six Secrets of Soybean Success are steps many farmers are taking on their own farms to help them achieve 100-bushel soybeans. Among these secrets were weather, fertility (phosphorus), foliar protection (fungicide/insecticide), narrow row spacing and seed treatment. But, we can’t forget that Mother Nature, drainage and weed control, as well as proper pH, are crucial for soybean production.
Lastly, two growers shared their soybean production experience and Stephanie Porter listed the Top 10 Reasons for Higher Soybean Yields in 2017.
Here is what some learned:
“Adding one more pod to each soybean plant, increases yield by 2 bushels per acre.” – Jeff Bixenman
“Fertility (especially phosphorus) ahead of soybeans and narrow rows are important factors for high yields.” – Donny Marnin, Burrus Account Manager
“Feed the bean; soybeans are not weeds, and 60% of the soybean yield comes from the middle of the soybean plant (nodes 7 – 13).” – Pete Gill
“Full season soybean maturity varieties for the area often gives the highest yields.” – Dick Burns, Burrus Account Manager
“I learned the benefits of planting early and using a full seed treatment (includes PS SDS). Growing soybeans is not like it used to be.” – Ed Stallman
“All soybean herbicide technologies will yield. You don’t have to plant a particular soybean herbicide technology to get a yield bump.” – John Howell, Burrus Account Manager
Better Beans Polo and Mendota, Illinois
The Illinois Soybean Association hosted two Better Beans Series events in the northern and northwestern parts of the state. Better Beans came to Polo on January 30 in partnership with Pearl City Elevator and then hit Mendota on January 31 in partnership with Northern Partners Cooperative (NPC). The local events drew over 200 attendees, industry experts and exhibitors. The programming was excellent, tailored to the needs and challenges of growers in the area, and received many wonderful comments—with one producer even stating that it was, “One of the most beneficial meetings that he had attended for quite some time.”
Systems Approach to High Yield Soybeans
Todd Thumma (Polo, Ill.), product development agronomist with Syngenta, and Adam Day (Mendota, Ill.), NPC agronomist, started the morning off with insights into using a systems-approach to grow better beans. This included utilizing good seed treatments. They mentioned that not all seed treatments are created equally and it’s important to understand the actual benefits provided by those seed treatments. Other important things to consider when building a systems-approach for growing beans include proper variety selection, early planting, good fertility, and controlling weeds, insects and diseases.
Better Beans with Plant Nutrition
Jason Haegele, WinField United agronomy manager, and Kevin Shedd, WinField United plant nutrition and performance DSM, focused on plant nutrition. Haegele explained that soybeans require a higher level of fertility than most producers realize. This includes 245 units of nitrogen, 43 units of phosphorus, and 120 units of potassium. Typically, soybeans get the leftovers from the corn crop planted the year prior. He stated we need to focus more attention on fertilizing soybeans to gain higher yields.
Shedd then focused his attention on micronutrients, which play an important role in high-yielding soybeans. The 3 key micronutrients include manganese, sulfur and zinc. He explained that the uptake for each micronutrient varies at different stages of growth. He also noted the importance of tissue testing and analyzing—this will help ensure the correct nutrients are applied when needed.
Advanced Weed Control Systems
Vince Davis, Ph.D., technical service representative with BASF, started his session off by asking two questions:
1. What have we seen change in the last 5 years and how did you adapt to it?
2. What do you see changing in the future and how will you adapt to that?
He mentioned the “big weed players” to be concerned with, how each species is different and the importance of understanding the anatomy of each, in order to learn how to best control them. Good burndown, vertical tillage, overlapping residuals, soybean canopy and timely weed control all play a role in weed control management. Davis also spoke to the dicamba system and the importance of minimizing herbicide resistance through diverse modes of action.
Challenges and Viable Solutions in Soybean Production
Both days wrapped up with a roundtable featuring the speakers from the day, a local grower and agronomic experts from the area. The Polo, Ill. roundtable included Steve Leick, a farmer from Winnebago County who farms with his brother Mike. Steve gave us great information and insight into their farming operation. He mentioned that the way for them to learn is by utilizing small plots on their ground. This helps them to adapt better practices for their operation in the future.
The Mendota roundtable featured Will Linker, Malden, Ill., Connor Finley, Ottawa, Ill., and Jeff Bode, WinField United agronomist. Each shared their soybean management stories and experiences on their farm. There were several questions pertaining to fertility, weed management and rotation. Some producers are even considering growing beans-on-beans due to the farming economy at this time.
After the Better Bean meeting concluded, several growers stuck around for a BASF Dicamba Certification meeting with Vince Davis. Overall, these were extremely informative sessions with great comments from the those in attendance. The Illinois Soybean Association would like to thank Pearl City Elevator and Northern Partners Cooperative for their partnership and support hosting these local Better Beans events.
ILSoyAdvisor.com Soybean Summit – Springfield, Illinois – Event Wrap-Up
On January 11, Springfield, Illinois became the capitol of soybean knowledge and expertise. The ILSoyAdvisor Soybean Summit provided Illinois soybean growers with a centralized hub of information to start off the new growing season on the right foot. From field agronomists, to university researchers, to fellow farmers the day was packed full of expert soybean advice. Here’s a birds-eye view of the topics discussed throughout the day:
Soybeans: The Hits Just Keep on Coming
Dale Durchholz, AgriVisor, LLC
• As GDP per capita rises, meat consumption per capita rises with it.
• The trend in world meat consumption is exploding, especially in Asian countries.
• This trend is mimicked when it comes to protein meal and oilseeds, such as soybeans.
• The demand for soybeans continues to trend upward, while prices still are down.
• Farmers must navigate dealing with meeting the increasing demand, while also maintaining profitability.
Management Philosophies Needed to Reach 100-Bushel Soybeans
Kris Ehlers, Ehler Bros. Co.
• While harvesting 100-bushel beans requires a multi-faceted approach, there are a few key learnings from soybean retailer Kris Ehler, who has consistently been helping his farmers grow 100-bushel beans the past few years.
• To boost yield, everything farmers do during the growing season should be focused on – the number of pods on a plant, number of beans per pod, and seed size and weight.
• Ehler Bros. plot data consistently show that earlier planting dates out-yield later planting dates.
• Spend time in your fields throughout the season and be prepared to adjust strategy before there are problems.
• Rely on trusted advisors and proven research to get growers to the next level.
Boron Management for Soybean Production
Nathan Slaton, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
• Boron is an essential plant nutrient and dicots like soybeans require more boron than monocots like corn.
• Boron deficiency affects all stages of the growing cycle and the stress is multiplied when water is lacking.
• Tissue testing offers the best glimpse into catching boron deficiencies and is best evaluated by collecting trifoliate leaves at the R2 stage.
• However, there is little evidence to support that supplemental boron is the link to ‘ultra-high’ soybean yields.
Selecting Management Strategies for Producing High Yields and Profitable Soybeans
Stephanie Porter, Burrus® Hybrids and Todd Steinacher, AgriGold®
• Porter and Steinacher reviewed strategies that promote higher soybean yields and greater profitability.
• Weather, fertility, variety, foliar protection, seed treatment and row spacing are six factors that influence soybean yield.
• Five years of trials in Illinois show that the following grower-controlled management practices have the greatest impact on increasing yield: Improved soil fertility, variety selection and use of foliar protection (fungicides and insecticides).
Learning How to Optimize Yield by Resource Allocation in Soybean Production Systems
John McGillicuddy, McGillicuddy-Corrigan Agronomics
• With a fixed amount of water, sunshine and critical minerals, pod retention will be limited by at least one of these factors.
• To produce high-yielding soybeans growers must master the dynamic balance between soils, sunlight, water, population, spacing and planting date.
• Another key consideration is to make sure resources aren’t going to the parts (stems, roots, leaves) that don’t produce profit; but instead to the part (beans) that sells.
What the Illinois Yield Challenge Results Have Taught Us About Managing Soybeans
Mike Scheer and Dan Davidson
• The past eight years that ISA has been sponsoring a yield challenge have brought in nearly 1,000 entries and allowed several growers to break 100 bushels.
• One of the highlights of the program is that growers have been incentivized to try new practices and share learnings with growers across the state.
• Another benefit of the challenge is that the average yield across the state has steadily increased and soybean management practices have improved.
Habits of Financially Resilient Farmers
Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Through good and bad years, there are commonalities among the most profitable farmers.
• A study sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association explored on-farm practices that led to healthier bottom lines.
• The study found seven habits of the most successful farmers, including planting dates, on-farm investments and management practices.
Challenges and Viable Solutions in Soybean Production Farmer Roundtable
Travis Albin (Villa Grove), Jason Boehler (Litchfield), Tim Seifert (Auburn)
• Soybeans produce high yields but require more intense management than corn.
• A few practices these fellow farmers have adopted include precision technology, reduced tillage, cover crops, and exploring different seed technologies.