Field experiments will be set up at three locations at ISU research farms (Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Farm near Boone, Southeast research and Demonstration Farm near Crawfordsville, and Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm near Sutherland), featuring three soybean planting dates adjusted according to USDA RMA early planting dates and cultivars from three maturity groups (early, mid, and late MG within the well adapted maturities for each location). The experiments will employ a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangements to compare the effects of planting dates on each cultivar group. Data on plant density (after emergence and before harvest), phenological growth staging (date R1, R3, R5, and R8), plant biomass (at V4, R1, R3, R5, and R8), and yield components (number of seeds and pods per plant, and seed weight) will be recorded. Emergence, disease and pest incidence, and critical growth stage dates will be assessed to evaluate the production risks associated with ultra-early planting practices. Advanced aerial sensing technologies, including a UAV equipped with hyperspectral sensors, will capture high-resolution imagery throughout the growing season to assess plant health and canopy coverage.
The project's findings will be actively disseminated to the farming community, agronomists, and industry stakeholders. Outreach efforts will include presentations at agricultural conferences, field days, and seminars. Additionally, the results will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, extension bulletins, and digital media platforms to ensure broad access to the research insights.

The research aims to understand the effects of ultra-early planting on soybeans with varying maturities under Iowa's unique environmental conditions. This study will:
1. Examine the yield, growth and development, disease incidence and severity across three soybean maturity groups planted at three planting dates.
2. Assess the influence of these planting dates on disease incidence and severity, along with the potential benefits or drawbacks in terms of yield.

The treatments and data collection proposed will provide the following deliverables:
1. A better understanding of soybean cultivar and maturity response to early planting dates and associated risks.
2. Gain an understanding of if or how early planting affects disease incidence.
3. Evaluate if early planting or maturity selection can be more profitable through a partial budget analysis.
4. Evaluate if early planting or cultivar selection can affect seed quality.

Updated September 4, 2025:
In progress towards the first year of funding, field trial locations have been selected at the ISU Research and Demonstrations farms near Sutherland and Crawfordsville, IA. The third location will be located at the Wyffels production facility east of Ames, IA. The field trial was reduced to two planting dates and 2 soybean maturities per location to allow for timely planting of this field trial but also other trials being planted using the same equipment. However, an additional experimental treatment of with and without foliar fungicide was added to assess how early planting dates of a late maturity soybean would respond to fungicide control.

This research will help farmers make decisions regarding early planting (ie. early to mid-April) and how that decision may influence foliar disease and ultimately yield potential.