In October 2020, Drs. Vann, Naeve, and Conley were funded by USB to facilitate collaborative efforts of Extension soybean specialists across the U.S. This USB project brings together soybean Extension personnel from diverse U.S. regions who will collaboratively investigate BMP’s and subsequently disseminate information using diverse outreach strategies. The USB funding specifically supports bi-annual meetings where high-quality information will be generated (i.e., Extension publications, social media releases, videos). This collaborative group will sustain the goals of this project by leveraging QSSB funding to support localized research efforts that will be integral to providing soybean farmers with the tools and information they need to continue increasing their quality and efficiency, ultimately allowing us to develop and deliver BMP’s on a national scale. As part of the USB contract, multistate collaborative research trials are being planned across the U.S. Because the USB grant does not cover the costs of these trails, this proposal aims to seek funding allowing Iowa State University to participate fully.

Develop and distribute up-to-date, high-quality information to soybean farmers across the U.S. on emerging best management practices (BMP’s) through a national partnership.

It is planned to participate in the collaborative USB project and conduct one or two trials as decided upon by the collaboration. The trial(s) will be conducted at the Ag Engineering and Agronomy Research Farm near Boone, IA and Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm near Sutherland, IA.

Update:
Two field trials are planned for the collaborative N-fixation project being led by Ignacio Ciampitti and Seth Naeve. The locations (Ames and Sutherland farms) and protocol will be as in 2021. And additional collaborative trials is being initiated for 2022 to examine the use of biological (most microbial) seed treatments on soybeans. We will be evaluating 7 different products in a field evaluation at 1 Iowa location with 17 states conducting trials.

Update:
Of the two planned field trials are planned for the collaborative N-fixation project being led by Ignacio Ciampitti and Seth Naeve, only 1 was planted due to wet field conditions and delayed planting. The Sutherland location was planted on May 19 and harvested on Sept 27. All field plant and soil samples were sent to Ignacio for nitrogen fixation analysis and Seth for grain composition. In brief, 2022 yields were depressed slightly from 2021. However, like 2021, the high N application did show a grain yield response that was not economical. From 2021 we saw that modest amounts of N and S did not significantly affect N fixation but the high N rate did reduce the amount of soybean fixed nitrogen.

New for 2022, we conducted a soybean biological seed treatment trial in Ames. We evaluated 7 different products. At the time of this report, the trial has not been harvested because of extremely late planting on June 27. UAV imagery did not detect treatment differences in canopy health or canopy closure.

In the soybean N fixation trial with 3 site-years (Ames and Sutherland in 2021; Sutherland in 2022), we found modest amounts of S and/or N did not improve soybean yield. S was applied at 30 #/acre and N was applied at 26 #/acre at the time of planting. However, the high rate (30 # S/acre and 300 # N/acre) did result in a positive yield response at both locations in 2021 and only a nominal yield response in 2022. Soybean yield levels was greater than 75 bu/ac at Sutherland in 2021 while Ames 2021 and Sutherland 2022 were both above 60 bu/ac. Regardless of the rate of yield level or yield response, it was not an economical response. However, the results indicate that a response to N and/or S is more likely at higher yield levels.

The economic impact and significance of the outcomes derived from this study will lead to an increased ability for farmers and industry advisors to make better in-season decisions for soybean management. Furthermore, agronomists would be able to learn which soybean growing environments respond to individual management practices to be able to better advise farmers on new or evolving management practices. Overall, this study will lead to continued collaboration between soybean extension specialists from across the U.S., leading to developed of best management practices for resilient productivity and increased profitability in an ever-competitive global market.