Intensive Soybean Management Practice on-Farm Evaluation.

Overall Soybean (Glycine max) yield trends have not increased at the same rate of corn (Zea mays) yield trends in recent years, leaving growers with many questions around how to intensify their management practices to raise higher soybean yields. In 2013, the DuPont Pioneer Western Business Unit conducted a “High Yield Soybean Challenge” with the objective of evaluating intensive soybean management practices across a range of irrigated and non-irrigated yield environments. Cooperating growers managed an identified field of choice with their selected management practices from planting preparation through harvest. Management information for each field was gathered and summarized to evaluate yield trends by management practice, including tillage, planting dates, seeding rates, crop rotation, supplemental in-season fertility, foliar fungicides, foliar insecticides, and harvest timing. Results from the “High Yield Soybean Challenge” evaluation will be presented and related to responses in DuPont Pioneer and university agronomy research studies, identifying result factors. The “High Yield Soybean Challenge” will be repeated in 2014.