SOYBEAN PRODUCTION GROWING in VERMONT Checkoff Grant Funds Short-Season Variety Trials and Cover Crop Research

Eastern Region Soybean Board

CHECKPOINTA Newsletter for Florida, West Virgina and New England Soybean Growers | FALL 2016 |

SOYBEAN PRODUCTION GROWING IN VERMONT Checkoff grant funds short-season variety trials and cover crop research

When you think of soybean production, Vermont certainly isn’t the first state that and nutrient losses and increased insect and comes to mind. But thanks to dairy producers, soybean production is growing in the disease pressures. It’s important for us to state. In fact, in the past five years, soybean acres have doubled. identify practices that can help farmers adapt to these climate extremes to increase yields Nearly 80% of Vermont’s farmland is project on cover crops that has the and farm profits.” devoted to supporting dairy production. potential to increase soil quality, minimize Dairy producers are raising more soybeans pest pressure, and optimize yields. “I’m than ever as a rotational crop and as an on- super excited,” says Darby. “It’s a great Variety trials focus on short-season beans farm ration source. “The interest in growing opportunity for us to get some far north The variety trials are being conducted at soybeans is building, especially in the dairy region data that’s not available right now.” the Borderview Research Farm in the most community,” says Dr. Heather Darby, an northwestern corner of Vermont, just across agronomist with the University of Vermont. the border from Canada. A total of 32 varieties “Dairy farmers are trying to integrate Unique challenges with maturities from 000 to 1.5 were planted soybeans into their production system and The New England states face a variety and monitored for growth and development trying to become more self-sufficient by of production challenges unique to their as well as insect and disease pests. Once growing their own grain. They already grow climate. “The very short season is in itself harvested, data will be collected on yields, corn for silage mostly, so it’s a good addition a challenge,” Darby explains. “Weather is a moisture and test weight. Oil content and to the rotation with a really positive crop variable for any farmer, but variable weather meal quality will also be documented. that can be utilized on their farm.” is even more problematic when you have less “A lot of companies were really interested A checkoff grant from the Eastern of a season. That is our primary challenge. in this trial because they don’t often have Region Soybean Board has enabled Dr. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to the opportunity to look at varieties that Darby to explore two research projects grow reliability productive crops in our region are very, very short season,” says Darby. that have the potential of significantly due to the erratic climate,” Darby continues. “Farmers here can see 60- to 70-bushel impacting the profitability of soybean “In the Northeast alone, the incidence of rain yields, but the average is probably around producers throughout the New England storms with at least 2” of rain has increased 40 bushels. We’ve never really had variety states. The first project is a variety trial by more than 70% since the 1950s. These trials here, so I think that will really help to identify the best short season varieties types of extreme events predispose our farms farmers select the best varieties, which is and maturities. The second is a research to added risks, including unpredictable soil really important.”

Continued on page 2 Cover crops research educators and agronomists throughout the in the fall, farmers can see the dried-down For the cover crop research, cover crops New England area collaborate by publicizing soybeans and the cover crop project. will be established in the fall after a corn the information on their websites, on social Darby is appreciative of the opportunity crop or interseeded into soybeans at media, and at a variety of field days, crop afforded by the checkoff grant. different stages. The impact on cover crops conferences, and other events that draw “The checkoff grant gives us the ability on weed biomass, soil nutrients and soil farmers and crop advisors. to fund projects that aren’t normally health will be measured. “We have a very active website and we funded through USDA grants and to “These are short season soybeans so they write farmer-friendly research reports on research areas that are outside the larger tend not to canopy as much. They’re not every project that we do,” says Darby. “We soybean growing areas. To the best of as bushy as other soybeans, so the timing of post them and we also distribute them at my knowledge, there’s been no research interseeding cover crops, and the types of the different agricultural events we host into cover crops in the far northern part cover crops we use, might be different than and also go to. That’s probably at least 16 of our region and very little research on other areas of the country,” says Darby. “We events a year. Even if we’re not actually short season bean varieties. Although the will be seeding as the beans are starting to presenting on that topic, we bring the research done in other states is good, it’s dry down, once the leaves are starting to research reports with us so farmers have not all completely applicable to our region. turn yellow. We’ll seed again after all the access to the reports they want.” That’s why this is so important to farmers leaves have dropped. We’re going to use a In July, over 225 attendees from Vermont, in New England.” dwarf rye grass with a short white clover, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, One farmer at the research day echoed something that would be used in orchards Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, the thoughts of many who attended: “We that has very low growth that won’t grow New Jersey, and Quebec came together have been interested in planting cover too tall and get in the way of harvest.” to see the research first-hand when the crops into soybeans for years although we Borderview Research Farm hosted a field just weren’t sure how to best go about it. Sharing information day. “They actually got a close-up look at We were a bit nervous to take the risk on Sharing the results of the research with the soybean research plots and were able our own farm. We are really excited to farmers is a prime objective of the checkoff to see the short season varieties growing in see this research and can’t wait to see the grant. Dr. Darby and her fellow Extension the field,” says Darby. At another field day results!”

Oil content and meal quality will be documented for the beans planted in the variety trials.

Dr. Heather Darby instructed farmers on the research Farmers from eight states and Canada assembled at the Borderview Research Farm to see research conducted on being conducted on cover crops. behalf of soybean producers.

Eastern Region Soybean Board 2215 Forest Hills Drive • Suite 40 Harrisburg, PA 17112

Jennifer Reed-Harry Executive Director [email protected]

Phone: (717) 651-5922 www.easternregionsoy.org

The Eastern Region Soybean Board partici pates in a shared-executive arrangement with the Pennsylvania Soybean Board. Photos courtesy of Dr. Heather Darby, University of Vermont Extension Vermont of University Darby, Heather courtesyPhotos of Dr. Short-season variety trials are part of the checkoff funded research in Vermont. KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR SOYBEANS It’s time to look at protein and oil, not just yield

You know your soil. You know your The industry’s main focus has been on climate. But do you know the protein and yield, but it’s time to look at the quality oil contents of your soybeans? All farmers elements. And the first place to start is with SOYBEAN QUALITY your own soybeans. should, says Bill Beam, a checkoff farmer- “There’s a gap between what end-users MATTERS leader and Chairman of the Eastern want and what we as soybean farmers are How Choosing Higher Quality Region Soybean Board. growing,” says Beam. “We need to know “We’re not growing pounds of soybeans,” what we have, and then we can start Seeds Affects Your Price he says. “We’re growing pounds of protein making changes.” and pounds of oil that our end-users need.” From farmers to crushers to processors, Demand for soybeans is based on those those changes could lead to increased profit pounds of protein and oil being harvested and opportunities for the entire value chain. “Moving forward, bushels per acre from your fields. For example, poultry and yield won’t be the only important factor,” livestock farmers want protein to feed their says Cordier. “The constituents – oil and chickens, turkeys and hogs. protein – will enhance the value to the Unfortunately, the protein content in U.S. soybean farmer.” soybeans has been slowly declining over the years. And buyers are aware of this trend. Numbers don’t lie “We go to great lengths to buy and Near-infrared (NIR) machines measure the source some of the highest-quality soybeans protein and oil contents of soybeans. available,” says Gary Cordier, senior vice Some elevators and crushers have near- infrared (NIR) machines that can measure president of domestic soy processing at the protein and oil contents of soybeans. Perdue AgriBusiness. “But nationwide, there’s The next time you deliver soybeans, ask to been a slow deterioration in soybean protein.” see your numbers to get an idea of your meal and oil quality. Competing for demand Even if your local elevator can’t provide U.S. soy has many advantages, but end an analysis of your soybeans, all farmers users have other options. can take the next step toward quality. “Some international regions are growing Ask your seed representative which soybeans with higher protein than here in varieties will perform well with yield and the U.S.,” says Beam. “If those higher- quality, and take that information into protein soybeans are priced competitively, consideration when making your final we’re going to lose valuable sales.” seed purchases.

Animal agriculture is the #1 customer of soybean meal. Increasingly, livestock producers are looking for high quality beans with a high protein content. GET THE MOST FROM YOUR SOYBEAN HARVEST Manage soybean harvest timing, moisture to improve yield

Harvesting soybeans in a timely man- ner and at the optimum moisture is important to getting the best yields. Even though stems may be green, soybeans may be dry and ready for harvest. The following adjustments in your practices can help you get the most from your harvest: • When harvesting tough or green stems, make combine adjustments and operate at slower speeds. • Begin harvesting at 14% moisture. What appears to be wet from the road may be dry enough to harvest. Try during a day with low humidity and drying grain, start harvesting at 16% harvesting when some of the leaves are windy conditions. Avoid harvesting moisture and aerate down to 13%. still dry on the plant; the beans may when beans are driest, such as on hot • Harvest at a slow pace and make be drier than you think. Soybeans are afternoons, to maintain moisture and combine adjustments to match fully mature when 95% of the pods reduce shattering losses. conditions several times a day as are at their mature tan color. • Avoid harvest losses from shattering. conditions change. • Harvest under optimum conditions. Four to five beans on the ground • While it’s too late for this season, Moisture content can increase by per square foot can add up to one next year select your varieties and several points with an overnight dew bushel per acre loss. If you are schedule your planting to spread out or it can decrease by several points putting beans in a bin equipped for plant maturity and harvest.

EUROPEAN UNION APPROVES THREE BIOTECH SOY TRAITS

The U.S. Soybean Export Council “The EU’s approval of these events is internationally by meeting the needs (USSEC) has announced the long awaited welcome news for U.S. soybean farmers,” of global customers that use U.S. Soy European Union approval of three biotech said USSEC chairman Laura Foell, a soybean in human food and feed for poultry, soy traits for import and processing. The grower from Schaller, Iowa. “We’re happy livestock and fish. The organization three stacked events are: that we can supply our European customers uses a global network of stakeholder • Monsanto’s Xtend (dicamba x with a reliable supply of safe food.” partnerships, including soybean glyphosate MON87708 x MON89788) Europe is one of the largest customers farmers, exporters, agribusinesses, of U.S. soybean farmers with over 165 agricultural organizations, researchers • Monsanto’s Vistive Gold (high oleic x million bushels of soybeans in exports and government agencies, to glyphosate MON87705 x MON89788) already this year. accomplish that mission. USSEC • Bayer CropScience’s Balance GT The U.S. Soybean Export Council programs are partially funded by the (glyphosate x HPPD inhibitor FG72) aims to maximize the use of U.S. Soy United Soybean Board (USB).