Tailored Solutions – Soybean Systems Management

• Historically, soybeans have not been managed as intensively as corn, possibly resulting in sub-optimal yields and economic losses. Achieving higher yields in soybeans may require the dedication of resources, ranging from seed selection to pest management to fertility management.

• Such decisions should ultimately lead to improved yields and profitability to be sustainable. However, investing more inputs in soybean production in the current market situation is not appealing to most growers.

• The objective of this trial was to determine the economic value of two production systems:

  • Grower standard system
    
  • Premium system (high inputs)
    

• Three soybean varieties with different maturity groups (MGs) were used for this trial. The varieties selected had a varied Relative Maturity (RM) spread for the location in order to help understand input response:

  • 2.0 MG (early variety for the research location)
    
  • 2.5 MG (mid-season variety for the research location)
    
  • 2.9 MG (full-season variety for the research location) 
    

• Each soybean variety was planted at both the premium and grower standard systems.
  • Grower Standard
    • 150,000 seeds/acre seeding rate
    • Seeds were treated with the Acceleron® Seed Applied Solutions STANDARD fungicide and insecticide treatments. 

• Premium
  • 125,000 seeds/acre seeding rate
    
  • Seeds were treated with the Acceleron® Seed Applied Solutions STANDARD fungicide and insecticide treatments.
    
  • ILeVO® seed treatment 
    
  • Foliar fungicide and insecticide application at R3
    

• The trial was carried out in 30-inch row spacing, 6 rows/treatment with 3 replications.

• Tillage and weed management were the same in both systems.

• The premium system out-yielded the grower standard, producing an average of approximately 6 bu/acre more yield across all three soybean varieties.

• The full-season variety (2.9 MG) performed better than the other varieties in the premium system.

• With the current grain price of $8.43/bu, about 3 bu/acre is required to pay for the extra inputs of the premium system in all three varieties.

   

• Crop yield response to production inputs can be highly variable, often impacted by the environmental conditions during the growing season. Farmers are therefore advised to consult their trusted crop advisors when making such decisions.

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