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Soybean Growers Sought for On-Farm Research Program

SDSU Extension and the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council are seeking South Dakota soybean growers to participate in a farmer-led On-Farm Research Program.
 
A collaborative effort between the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station at SDSU and SDSU Extension, the On-Farm Research Program is producer-led and provides ideas and answers for agronomic issues facing South Dakota’s soybean growers.
 
The On-Farm Research Program allows South Dakota farmers to double as citizen scientists, testing various products and farming practices in their own soybean fields with the intent to increase yields, ward off pests and diseases, and improve their bottom line.
 
“Soybean producers are dealing with an overwhelming assortment of crop production, management and product input choices,” Strunk said. “More information is needed on cost-effective practices to control diseases, insects and weeds, as well as managing soil fertility, tillage, row spacing and other agronomic decisions.”
 
Since producers are inundated with product choices, the best way to know if any of these products will work on their farm, Strunk explained, is to test them on site or visit the South Dakota Soybean On-Farm Research Program’s website to see if a research trial has already been conducted in a field near them.
 
How it works
 
The On-Farm Research Program provides easy access results to producer-driven research.
  1. Producers get to choose what product or management practice they want to study and evaluate on their farm.
  2. SDSU Extension staff provides personalized, one-on-one help to set up testing protocols, data collection and analysis and website result summarization.
  3. Program participants receive a customized report and recommendations for implementation within their operation.
  4. All farm and farmer information remain confidential.
  5. Results are shared online for all South Dakota soybean farmers to access and utilize when making management decisions.
“SDSU Extension bridges the gap between university research and producers; we offer assistance in conducting unbiased on-farm research projects by providing information and application guidance for producers. Soybean growers who take part in the program have the opportunity to focus on what they want to evaluate on their farm,” Strunk said.
 

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Joe Janzen and Scott Irwin of the University of Illinois provided an in-depth analysis of the grain market outlook for 2024, including price forecasts, global supply and demand trends, and marketing implications for corn and soybean producers.

Key topics covered:

Review of 2023/24 USDA February WASDE report results Old and new crop corn and soybean balance sheet forecasts Export sales pace comparisons to previous years South American soybean production estimates Impact of input costs and interest rates on marketing Benchmarking farm-level marketing performance As grain prices face downward pressure in 2024, the presenters emphasized the importance of having an active marketing plan in place, rather than a 'store and ignore' approach. They provided insight into strategies for forward contracting, making new crop sales, and capturing opportunities in a volatile market environment.

Overall, an excellent webinar reviewing the latest market analysis and offering actionable strategies for crop producers facing a more challenging economic climate this year.