Indiana Prairie Farmer publishes a column written by Tom Bechman with the help of CCAs for CCAs and their clients. With permission from Prairie Farmer we are posting these Corn and Soybean Corner articles on the CCA website. Many thanks to the authors and the support of Indiana Prairie Farmer.
Soybean Corner Articles
Push for higher yields or cut back on inputs?
Answers are from the Indiana certified crop adviser panel: Danny Greene, Greene Crop Consulting, Franklin; Bryan Overstreet, soil conservation coordinator, Rensselaer; and Dan Ritter, Dairyland Seed agronomist, Plymouth.
My brother and I are discussing outcomes from this year’s soybeans. I was happy with yields and would consider cutting back on some inputs. He felt that we could’ve pushed for another 10 bushels per acre. Which is the better strategy? Which inputs are essential?
Greene: You could both be right! The decision isn’t simply whether to cut back or push harder but should also be about identifying which inputs consistently provide a positive return on investment.
Inputs worth evaluating include phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, sulfur, micronutrients, biologicals, seed treatments, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.
For each one, ask: “What value did this add to yield and profit on my farm this year?” The best way to answer that is through well-planned side-by-side strip trials. Change one factor at a time in these trials so you know what causes any yield change.
Here are a few principles to keep in mind as you consider your strategy for next year:
Protect the basics. Don’t cut soil fertility where soil tests are at or below critical levels. Yield loss from nutrient deficiency often costs more than any fertilizer savings. Variable-rate applications can stretch dollars while keeping fields productive.
Target higher-risk situations. Inputs like fungicides or insecticides may not pay every year, but when disease or pest pressure is high, they often make the difference in capturing extra bushels.
Use scouting to guide decisions. Stand counts, weed pressure, and pest or disease levels should drive whether additional inputs are needed.
Be realistic about your management. Do you have the time, labor and equipment to execute extra passes properly? A product can have potential, but only if it’s applied at the right time.
At the end of the day, the better strategy is data-driven decision-making. Plan trials, follow through, and collect results so you’re not sitting in winter saying, “I wish I would have tested that idea.” A crop consultant can help design those comparisons and keep you accountable to learning something new every season.
Ritter: Soil fertility and proper pH levels are the first two must-haves. So, don’t short yourself there. Next, weed control is essential. Don’t let weeds escape. It may seem cheaper this year, but it will cost you in succeeding years.
If you’re getting a solid return on investment from extra inputs, continue to push for extra bushels. However, efficiency will be key. How efficiently can you produce those last 10 bushels? Also look at fungicides, insecticides and micronutrients, depending on specific fields.
Overstreet: Look at the economics of both options to decide which one is the better choice. How much will it cost to get that extra 10 bushels? If you cut inputs, you save money. But are you going to hurt yield more than what you save? Those are questions you and your brother should ask.
There are a few areas where I would not skimp. Soybeans are big users of potassium. So, you need to keep those levels up. The past few years proved that you need to generally add sulfur. Weed control is another area where you should not skimp. Find a weed control program that works for you. Then you may be able to tweak it to reduce some cost.
