High Yield Potential Try an all-systems approach to a higher-yielding soybean BY KRISS NELSON
T
he evolution of soybean genetics has paved the way for farmers to achieve greater yields. But is relying on those genetics enough? Trials conducted by the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) seek to discover what it takes to achieve higher soybean yields. “We are looking to see what management practices are best to unlock further yield potential to increase farmer profitability,” says Teresa Middleton, ISA field services program manager. “If we can achieve higher yields with the same inputs and just different management, then we can increase the return of investment and soybean profitability.” Soybean planting date and maturity trials are conducted at Iowa State University (ISU) research farms in small-plot research scenarios and on-farm experiments. This past growing season, the ISA RCFI team recruited several farmer cooperators to participate in commercial setting trials, according to Middleton.
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Anthony Martin, ISA senior f ield services program manager uses a drone during research trials for general imagery or scouting.
