The Effects of an Intensive Management Program on Soybean Yields and Profits
Applied Research
Tim Britton
Ag Agent-Agriculture
NCCES
SMITHFIELD
Abstract
Johnston County, North Carolina, has a wide range of soil types, from rolling to relatively flat topography with shallow to very deep clay layers. Johnston County growers plant between 45,000 and 55,000 acres of soybeans yearly with an average yield of 35 bushels/A. Many soybean acres are planted on medium to low-yielding soil types, which are well-drained and suited for tobacco production. Each year, approximately 10,000-12,000 acres of soybeans are planted double-crop after the small grain harvest is completed. Most years, this planting occurs after our area's normal soybean planting window has ended, which limits yield potential. Regardless of the soil type or planting date, growers must budget input costs to determine how much they can spend on production costs and still make a profit. Working with local growers for the past three years, Cooperative Extension initiated three on-farm tests to determine if scouting, tissue sampling, and timely application of insecticides and fungicides would increase profits above the additional input costs. Test sites were located on three different soil types common in the County, with yield expectations from 27 to 44 bushels per acre. Data for the three years showed an average range of yields from 31.6 bushels/acre for the baseline production practices, while the addition of insecticides, fungicides, and other treatments improved yields to 39.7 bushels per acre. This yield increase demonstrated that adopting these practices could improve profits by $23 -$90 per acre. However, the most significant component of the yield increase came from the timely application of insecticides to manage stink bugs. A popular insecticide, Bifenthrin, was applied, costing only $13.60 per acre per application for the pesticide and equipment. When this insecticide was applied twice in response to stink bugs reaching threshold pressure, it improved returns by over $90 per acre. Harvest data also demonstrated improved profitability from fungicides in moderate disease pressure years, while the application in low-pressure years did not improve profits. Intrepid Edge also increases yields and profits but has a more significant impact when exceeding thresholds. Foliar fertilizer products did not improve net profits in two of the three trial years.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Tim Britton
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Britton, T. Ag Agent-Agriculture, , North Carolina, 27577