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Most crop producers in Nebraska are in the midst of harvest now, and planning for next year is not on top of their “to-do” list. However, as harvest wraps up, soil sampling should be near the top of their list. This has been among the most challenging growing seasons in 50 years, with rainfall amounts far below average. Irrigation has moderated drought impacts for many Nebraska growers, but at a significant cost. The combination of drought conditions, heavy irrigation and widely varying yields means that soil testing is more important than ever this year....More

This past growing season, soybean aphids were unable to develop economic infestations in most fields in the north-central region, according to University of Illinois Professor of Entomology and Crop Sciences Extension Coordinator Mike Gray. “Is the ‘every other year’ infestation prediction a bust?” he asks....More

Soybean vein necrosis virus, a new disease in Indiana soybeans, was confirmed earlier this month, says Kiersten Wise, a Purdue Extension plant pathologist. A soybean sample exhibiting symptoms of the virus, also known as SVNV, was sent to Purdue's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. The laboratory sent the plant sample to Agdia Inc. for further testing. Molecular test results confirmed the presence of a tospo virus, or a disease causing cell death, in the sample....More

A distance of 7,000 miles is just the start of the differences between the Brookville, Ohio, farm where Steve Berk grew up raising soybeans as an FFA project and his current residence in Afghanistan. Yet, a new soybean processing factory creates a landmark link between states like Ohio and Afghan reconstruction efforts....More

The 2012 corn harvest continues to progress, with all major corn-producing states harvesting except Wisconsin. The corn condition held steady across all categories in the past week. Farmers have begun harvesting soybeans now, just barely ahead of the average pace. Soybean condition gained a couple points in the good/excellent category in the past seven days....More

The quirks of a year like this one – or just about any year, in fact – point out the need for well funded and focused ag research, Jason Bean says. He just finished a term as the United Soybean Board’s (USB) production committee chair, after serving nine years on the committee and 12 years on the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council....More

With almost one-fifth of the corn crop reaching maturity, and over half of the overall crop denting, the corn harvest has started. As of Aug. 20, 4% of the 2012 corn crop has been harvested. Four percent of the soybean crop is dropping leaves, and overall soybean condition gained a point in the good-to-excellent rating category....More

With hot and dry weather conditions, many growers are curious about soybean yield potential. It is difficult to accurately predict soybean yield because of plant variability, but estimates become more accurate as the growing season progresses. Soybean yield will be influenced by rainfall (or lack of rainfall) through August as seeds are filling....More

The small South American 2012 soybean crop will result in much smaller inventories of that crop by the end of the year. However, that drawdown in stocks in combination with the much larger harvest expected in 2013 suggests that the pace of consumption of South American soybeans will not have to slow. In contrast, the small U.S. harvest this year will require a substantial reduction in consumption over the next year, according to University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good....More

Corn production is forecast at 10.8 billion bushels, down 13% from 2011 and the lowest production since 2006. Based on conditions as of Aug. 1, yields are expected to average 123.4 bu./acre, down 23.8 bu. from 2011. If realized, this will be the lowest average yield since 1995. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 87.4 million acres, down 2% from the June forecast but up 4% from 2011. Soybean production is forecast at 2.69 billion bushels, down 12% from last year. Based on Aug. 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 36.1 bu./acre, down 5.4 bu. from last year. If realized, the average yield will be the lowest since 2003. Area for harvest is forecast at 74.6 million acres, down 1% from June but up 1% from 2011....More