Lexington, Kentucky
January 23, 2008
Soybeans often take second place
to corn during the growing season. As a result, farmers are
likely losing on efficiency of production and on final yields in
soybeans, said Chad Lee, a
University of Kentucky agronomist.
Lee is spearheading Kentucky’s part of a national initiative to
boost soybean yields. The research and outreach effort is being
funded by a $495,000 grant from the United Soybean Board
production committee and includes UK, Iowa State University,
University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, University
of Arkansas, and Louisiana State University.
“We are going to investigate current production practices to see
where yields can be improved,” Lee said. “In addition, we are
curious as to how management practices affect soybean seed
composition. We will test some of these strategies across six
states from north to south and hopefully develop some very good
management recommendations. The fact that the United Soybean
Board is funding this project tells us that we will be doing
research of critical interest to soybean producers.”
In 2008, soybean production in Kentucky and many other states is
expected to increase because of high prices and low stocks.
However, soybean production is facing increased competition
internationally from South America and domestically from corn
acres needed to feed ethanol production.
George Martin, a Nebo farmer and member of the United Soybean
Board production committee, was the one who made the motion to
fund the grant.
“I got a pretty quick second on that,” he said. “There are a lot
of things that can come out of this research. If you look at the
states involved, it goes from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, and
there’s a wide variance of research that is going to be going
on. This is a place to start to see what we need to look at and
pinpoint for more research.”
Martin said the main thrust will be on what the biggest yield
robbers are, and that could be different in different locations.
He said he also anticipates the work will look at other issues
such as quality.
Kentucky producers have complained in recent years about what
they perceived as stagnant soybean yields. Current soybean
varieties have the potential to yield more than 100 bushels per
acre, but this potential is almost never realized. Kentucky’s
statewide average record soybean yield of 44 bushels per acre
was set in 2004 and 2006. Yields in 2007 were down to an
estimated 27 bushels per acre due primarily to poor weather
conditions during the growing season.
The project will start in the fall of 2008 and continue through
2011. The six states represented account for 33 percent of
soybean production nationwide. The effort’s underlying goal is
to help soybeans stay competitive as part of the crop rotation.
Soybean producers need to maximize production efficiency and
yield to keep soybeans competitive with corn domestically and
competitive with other soybean regions nationally.
UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission,
reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and
extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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