Farmers can maximize soybean yields by focusing on a host of factors that can impact plant growth, collectively known as the systems approach. That’s one of the key takeaways of the 2016 Soybean College happening Tuesday in Albert Lea, Minn.
Some of the factors Farm Journal Associate Field Agronomist Missy Bauer addressed this morning include:
- Variety selection
- Row spacing
- Tillage
- Early or late planting
- Soil type
- Water management
- Field history
Although new technologies will come online in the next few years to improve farmers’ ability to manage during the growing season, it’s important to do routine field scouting to learn about your crop and your fields, Bauer says. By learning to count nodes and spot disease pressure, among other factors, farmers can adjust their approach and bump yields higher. -Sonja Begemann and Nate Birt
For more about the Farm Journal College events series, visit farmjournalcollege.com.
