Whole Soy Food Acceptability And Market Viability Study

Presented by: Dr. Karen Ballard, CEO, B&B  Legacy Farms LLC / Emeritus Professor-Program Evaluation, University of Arkansas System,
Division of Agriculture-Extension

Domestically and internationally the plant protein marketplace has exploded. With a 2021 record high 4.44 billion bushels harvested in the US, soy is one of only two complete plant proteins. In 2021 US plant-based retail food sales reached a value of 7.4 billion, growing 6.2% over record sales in 2020. The market increased 46% over the past four years with a 79% consumer repeat rate/purchasing pattern. Diverse market factors are driving this growth, including increased consumer understanding of the impact of plant protein in preventing, reducing, and managing diet-related disease. Food system and consumer research conducted through this study will be shared, exploring farmer and regional food system market opportunities.

Development Of Climate-Smart Practices Associated With Biological Inoculants And Repository Of Soybean-Related Microbiomes For Climate Resiliency

Presented by: Dr. Woo-Suk Chang, Associate Professor, University of Texas

The main goal of this work is to overcome barriers that may be present for implementing innovative climate-smart agricultural practices. While some barriers are fixed in place by regional practices and limitation of equipment, most are self-imposed due to an uneducated and misinformed public sector. Not only will we seek to increase the research behind climate-smart practices, but also we will create a communication nexus from private to public sector. This will help increase lab-to-field translatory research and ultimately provide small, beginning, and underserved farmers with the knowledge of how to incorporate which innovative techniques on their farm to bring the most success. In addition to the climate-smart practices, we have explored the rhizosphere microbiome that plays a crucial role in soil health as well as plant growth. We used a culture-independent method to compare the bacterial communities of the soybean rhizosphere between Nebraska (NE), a high-yield state, and Oklahoma (OK), a low-yield state. We hypothesized that differences in the soybean yield are attributed to the variations in the rhizosphere microbes at taxonomic, functional, and community levels. Soil physicochemical properties were also evaluated from each sampling site for comparative study. Our result showed that distinct clusters were formed between NE and OK in terms of their soil physicochemical property. Among 3 primary nutrients N-P-K, potassium is more positively correlated with the high-yield state NE samples. We attempted to identify keystone communities that significantly affected the soybean yield using co-occurrence network patterns. The network analysis revealed that communities formed distinct clusters in which members of modules having significantly positive correlations with the soybean yield were more abundant in NE than OK.

Managing Soybean Diseases And The Potential Impact Reduced Tillage Systems Have On Their Development

Presented by: Dr. Boyd Padgett, Extension/Research Plant Pathologist, LSU AgCenter

The foundation of a disease management program begins with identifying your enemy. Disease identification is key to management. After the disease(s) has/have been identified only then can management strategies be implemented. In Louisiana, soybean is plagued by numerous diseases that can negatively impact yield and quality. Reduced tillage systems can increase the risk to some of these diseases. This presentation will address identification, development, and management of the major diseases affecting soybean in the Mid-South.

An Ag Consultant’s Perspective; Adapting University And Industry IPM Recommendations For On-Farm Use!

Presented by: Dr. Rogers Leonard, Owner-Operator and Professor emeritus (LSU), Integrated Crop Consulting, LLC / (Retired) LSU AgCenter

Chemical control strategies are critical for Mid-South crop protection. The values of specific treatments should not be underestimated as environmentally acceptable components of an integrated pest management (IPM) system. Agricultural consultants and producers use all available information and carefully decide on the appropriate course of action. Action thresholds and pesticide use recommendations for crop pests promoted by Land-Grant University (LGU) extension specialists and Ag Chem industry representatives should be considered guidelines and only part of the decision-making process in a successful IPM program. Numerous operational, environmental, and biological factors interact during the production season and can greatly influence crop pests and the strategies used for effective management. With these factors in mind, this presentation will try to reconcile industry suggestions and LGU best management practices (BMP’s) for on-farm recommendations of pesticide use strategies.

Weed Management In Mississippi Soybean

Presented by: Dr. Jason A. Bond, Weed Scientist, Mississippi State University

Weed control is one of the primary inputs for soybean production in the midsouthern U.S.  Many challenges face soybean growers in the area; however, new tools are available that will assist growers in mitigating the negative effects of weeds in soybean.

General Agronomic Practices In Soybean Production With An Emphasis On Early Season Planting

Presented by: Tyler Hydrick, Arkansas Consultant, Ag Assistance, LLC

Hydrick will list some specific processes in order to prepare for early season soybean planting. Among them are fall tillage and adjusting the planting dates of other crops. As an example, soybeans have a very narrow window for planting to achieve maximum yields, whereas, with corn and rice, there’s a wide window to achieve maximum results. He is in his 5th year as a Certified Crop Advisor, consulting for Hydrick’s Crop Consulting of Jonesboro, Ark. This business covers the northeastern corner of Arkansas. Prior to this, he has been an employee at HCC since age 15. In 2014 he graduated from the University of the Ozarks with a B.S. in biology. In August 2017 he graduated from Mississippi State University under the advisement of Dr. Jason Bond with a Masters in weed science. He now consults on roughly 30,000 acres of corn, soybeans, rice and cotton while assisting his father, David, on other acreage as well.

Fertilizer Recommendations And Management Strategies In Light Of High Input Costs

Presented by: Dr. Rasel Parvej, Assistant Professor & Soil Fertility Specialist, LSU AgCenter
Presented by:  Dr. Josh Copes, Loan Officer (Cross Keys Bank), farmer (Copes Farms LLC), independent crop consultant (Delta Consulting and Management)

Considering recent fertilizer costs, soybean fields testing very low and low should at least be fertilized with K to protect against significant yield loss. Also, fertilization of soybean fields testing medium for P (21-30 ppm) and K (100-130 ppm) may be skipped for a year. Applying P and K in fall in fine-textured soils may not be a problem; however, for coarse-textured soils, it is better to apply both fertilizers just before planting. Both dry and liquid fertilizers are equally effective in increasing soybean yield in very low and low testing soils, but a half-rate of liquid cannot supply the full needs of the crop. Our current soil-test-based S fertilizer recommendations need to be reevaluated.

Louisiana On-Farm Potassium Trial

Presented by:  Dr. David Moseley, State Soybean Specialist, LSU AgCenter
Presented by:  Dr. David Smith, Lousiana Farmer
Presented by:  Dr. Rasel Parvej, Assistant Professor & Soil Fertility Specialist, LSU AgCenter

Research from the LSU AgCenter and the University of Arkansas suggest there is an almost 100% probability soybean plants will respond to K applications in fields with very low to low potassium (K) soil-test levels, and there would be up to45% yield loss in the absence of a K application. On-farm soybean trials can be effective ways to demonstrate research-based recommendations on a producer’s farm. Due to recent high prices of K, applications of 70-80% of the recommended rates of K were proposed to be economical. In-season K applications based on critical leaf K concentrations can mitigate K deficiencies and improve yield potential. In 2022, a potassium formulation, rate, and timing trial was established on a Beauregard parish farm consisting of a sandy loam soil with very low potassium (K) soil-test concentration (26 ppm Mehlich-3Kfrom0 –6 inch soil depth). In addition to yield, leaf samples were collected at different growth stages to determine how the yield responded to in-season K applications. In addition, whole plant and seed samples were collected to analyze the K uptake for each treatment.

Management Strategies For Insect Pests In Soybean Production Systems

Presented by: Dr. Whitney Crow, Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State University

Strategies for managing soybean insects to maximize profits in 2023. Soybean insect management focused around the use of chemical and cultural practices to best combat pest such as stink bug, soybean pod worm, and soybean looper.

Managing High Yielding Soybean Production From A Consultant’s Viewpoint

Presented by: Tucker Miller III, Mississippi Consultant/Farmer, Miller Entomological Services Inc.

Consultants take a broad view in planning soybean production, keeping an eye focused on high yields. It all begins with optimizing such things as variety selection, planting dates, early season insect and weed control, use of fungicides and early and late-season weed control. Though he’s been consulting for the past 48 years, he first began checking cotton at age 15, making it 51 years he’s been in the field. Today, he consults on 25,000 acres of cotton, 5,000 acres each of soybeans and corn, as well as 1,000 acres each of peanuts and vegetables. He grew up on a farm where cotton, soybeans and rice were raised; on his own 2,000 acres, he raises soybeans, wheat and corn, but also raises cotton some years.

Soybean Yield Response To Nitrogen And Sulfur Fertilization:  Findings From A National Collaboration

Presented by: Dr. Jeremy Ross, Extension Agronomist-Soybean Professor, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Research on the effect of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on seed yield of soybean has been done for years. However, soybean yield response to nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer applications remains inconsistent. This lack of consistent results could be due to the lack of standardized plot designs and a lack of understanding of the plant nutrition processes affecting grain yield. Twenty-six field trials in twelve states across the US tested five fertilization strategies that combined nitrogen and sulfur at different rates and timings. The objective of this study was to examine soybean seed yield response to nitrogen and sulfur across different environments and assess seed yield, plant N status, and the contribution of nitrogen fixation and soil nitrogen have on crop nutrition. For most locations, nitrogen and sulfur fertilization did not significantly increase soybean grain yield. Due to the high uncertainty in treatment response in the nitrogen treatments, nitrogen fertilization is unlikely to increase soybean grain yield.

The Importance Of On-Farm Research To Obtain High Yields

Presented by: Layne Miles, Arkansas Farmer, Double M Farms

You can use the research of others as a guide, but the true measure of what will work on your farm can be obtained only by your own on–farm research, which provides the best results in your soils, your fertility, your environment. “What works in Iowa, may not work in Arkansas”’ he says. Layne has been doing this type of research for about seven years, and his father, Matt, has used the same strategy for years before that. This year our test was “how early is too early”. We found a dry window and planted our first field of bean on February 18th. Not as something we thought we would really “make a crop in” but as a test to see what the limits of planting early.
The Miles farm recently grew to 10,000 acres when Layne and his dad, Matt, combined their acreage. On 1,500 acres they raise zero–grade rice, and the balance of the acreage. 3500 acres each is in corn and soybeans with 1,500 acres in Cotton. Miles received his bachelor’s degree in plant and soil science from the University of Arkansas in Monticello in 2016. He grew up on the family farm and is now farming for his 30th year.

Integrated Nematode Management In Soybean:  A Louisiana Perspective

Presented by: Dr. Tristan Watson, Assistant Professor of Nematology, LSU AgCenter

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major yield limiting factor for Louisiana soybean producers. The southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) are the most damaging and widespread species in the region. Management of plant-parasitic nematodes often requires a multifaceted approach. This presentation will highlight current research aimed at developing integrated management solutions for southern root-knot and reniform nematode on soybean in Louisiana.

Sustainability, Fertility And Water Conservation:  How To Make A Profit In 2023

Presented by:  Robb Dedman, Arkansas Consultant, Ultimate Ag Consulting

For the past nine years, Dedman has focused on lowering input costs while boosting soybean productions. Those efforts have paid off for his clients, as they have realized increases in their bottom line. He will point out in his presentation the things to watch closely that have been shown to product results. His first experience with consulting was when he started scouting rice while in high school under Dr. Nathan Slaton who was the Extension agent at the time. Dedman holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the University of Arkansas, and presently owns his own ag consulting firm, Ultimate Ag Consulting.

Cover Crop Seeding Rate Impacts On Soil Nitrogen And Yield

Presented by: Dr. Donna S. Gentry, Coordinator, LA Master Farmer Program, ANR Agent, Southeast Region, LSU AgCenter

Cover crops have many practical applications including the protection of soil, increased water infiltration and soil nitrogen (soil-N) availability, and improved crop yields. Rising costs of nitrogen fertilizer and other inputs have encouraged producers to find alternative ways to improve production and soil health. The LSU AgCenter implemented cover crop seeding rate trials in central and northeast Louisiana (across various soil types) to evaluate impacts from variable seeding rates on soil-N and crop yields. Although research indicates cover crop species, biomass, management practices, and environmental conditions may impact nitrogen, results also indicated differences in soil-N levels based on soil type and year, while soybean yield differences were due mainly to year.

What I Have Learned About The Benefits Of Cover Crops

Presented by: Kody Beavers, Louisiana Farmer, Boeuf Prairie Farm

After four years of farming on his own and seven years in farm management working for his partner, Beavers has learned a lot about the beneficial effects of cover crops. He will discuss how to manage cover crops in a row crop system, how it has benefited his operation, and the economics of its use. “Understanding how to best manage cover crops for your operation can provide worthwhile benefits for the producer,” he said. Beavers holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ag Business from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. He also has a Master of Business Administration from the same university.