When it comes to soybeans, take it easy on the tillage

Feb 09, 2015

A research center in North Dakota conducted more than a decade of trials

In certain industries, there are buzz words that when said, can get the attention of anyone within an earshot.

In the financial sector, terms like “credit crunch” can give an adrenaline rush while when it comes to social media, words like “viral” get everyone’s attention.

In farming and agriculture – it’s yield.

Farmers want to know where to get it and how to get it.

When it comes to soybeans, researchers at North Dakota’s Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) may have a solution – reduced tillage.

After 12 years of trials, Greg Endres, agronomist at the CREC, says it’s because the less tillage that occurs, there’s more water for the soybeans to absorb.

“There could be an inch or more of water available in the system in the soil that would help us,” he said in an interview with Farm & Ranch Guide.

Research and data compiled by Endres suggests no till soybeans can produce an average of 2.1 bu/acre more than when regular tillage is practiced.

Speaking of soybean yields…

The United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) said soybeans enjoyed a record crop in 2014. Farmers planted 6.8 million more acres of soybeans than in 2013.

The increased planting, paired with an astounding yield of 47.8 bu/acres, 2014 soybeans narrowly missed the four billion bushel mark.

To find out what 2015 has in store for soybeans and other crops, be sure to tune into Farms.com’s USDA WASDE webinar Tuesday, February 10, at 11:30am EST.

Farms.com’s Risk Management team lead by Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino will provide in depth coverage and analysis of the report and answer the questions farmers have about how to move forward with their crops.

Soybeans

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.