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USING ON-FARM RESEARCH TO MAKE SOYBEAN SEEDING RATES RECOMMENDATIONS

Agronomy & Pest Management

Amanda Bennett
Ext. Educ., ANR
Ohio State University Extension
Troy

Abstract

On-farm research is useful in providing valuable, local information. Traditionally, producers place more confidence in on-farm research results rather than small plot research results as they perceive them to be more applicable to their farm. With the inclusion of precision agriculture technologies in on-farm research, the amount of data collected and analyzed is increased. By aggregating this data into large on-farm research datasets, it can be used to mine valuable agronomic information specific to differing productivity level variations in the field. This information can lead to improved recommendations regarding site-specific management practices including variable rate seeding prescriptions. Challenges exist when selecting what data should be collected and how it is aggregated, managed, analyzed, and shared. However, once standardized, this data could be used to create or improve current decision-making tools and processes.\r\n\r\nAs soybean costs have become similarly priced to corn seed in the past decade, producers are not buying soybeans by the seed rather than the pound. In addition, precision planting technologies allow for better seed placement and plant emergence. Nonetheless, many producers have continued to plant soybeans at a rate of 160,000 - 180,000 seeds per acre. Results of soybean seeding rate studies in 2017 and 2018 concluded that soybean yields were not statistically different in most of the 33 trials within the 50,000 to 240,000 plant population planted. Based on this data, if producers choose to plant 120,000 seeds per acre instead of 160,000 seeds per acre and suffer no yield losses, the savings in seed costs is estimated at $17.12 per acre based on $0.428 per 1,000 seeds. For the 5.1 million acres of soybeans in Ohio, the economic impact would be more than $87 million in input costs for farm managers. In addition, variable rate seeding has gained interest among soybean growers due to the promise of optimizing yields by matching plant populations with variation in soil productivity. Preliminary analysis shows field variability is rarely significant enough to produce a yield response for soybean production. Authors: Custer, S., Bennett, A.M., Badertscher, M., Barker, J., Bruynis, C., Hawkins, E., Estadt, M., Clevenger, W., Ford, K., Hartschuh, J., Dellinger, W., Zoller, C., Richer, E., Gahler, A., Douridas, A.
  1. Custer, S. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45331
  2. Bennett, A.M. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45373
  3. Badertscher, M. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43326
  4. Barker, J. Assistant Professor, Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43050
  5. Bruynis, C. Associate Professor and Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45601
  6. Hawkins, E. Assistant Professor, Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 45177
  7. Estadt, M. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43113
  8. Clevenger, W. Associate Professor and Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43512
  9. Ford, K. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43160
  10. Hartschuh, J. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44820
  11. Dellinger, W. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43040
  12. Zoller, C. Assistant Professor, Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 44663
  13. Richer, E. Assistant Professor, Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43567
  14. Gahler, A. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43420
  15. Douridas, A. Ext.Educ.,Anr, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43078