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Iowa Soybean Research Center

in collaboration with the Iowa Soybean Association

ISA Presents March Research Webinar

ISA research webinar
At right from top, ISA RCFI Co-Directors Roger Wolf and Joe McClure, along with research scientist Matt Carroll, kicked off ISA’s research webinar by introducing the plan/do/check/act model.

ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) team held an “Innovation to Profit Webinar” on March 2 after an in-person conference was canceled due to a snowstorm in February. Joe McClure, RCFI Co-Director kicked off the webinar by introducing the plan/do/check/act model as a way of implementing a more formal planning mechanism. “A good plan will yield success in the field, so take the time to make a more formal plan. It’s important to review results and make adjustments,” said McClure.

ISA Research Scientist Matt Carroll and Conservation Agronomist Ryan Johnson gave updates on the benefits and challenges found during long-term cover crop trials, which started in 2016. They continue to collect information, but some of the benefits noted were weed suppression, and improvements in water quality and grazing. Challenges included herbicide carryover, termination challenges, nitrogen management, drought, etc. They also reviewed the benefits and challenges when implementing cover crops into farmers’ full production fields.

Research Agronomist Scott Nelson gave an overview of advancements in crop protection, giving tips on weed management and the latest information regarding soybean gall midge. He spoke about the use of disruptive technology such as precision/camera guided spray technology, which offers high-resolution scouting. This approach can reduce herbicide use by up to 90% according to Nelson, who sees this technology becoming the norm in the next 5-10 years. Regarding gall midge, Nelson explained that the pest continues to be identified in more areas, but its severity seemed to lessen in 2022. Research is ongoing to come up with the best way to manage this pest.

Wrapping up the webinar was a final session focused on research and conservation methods. ISA Conservation Agronomist Ben Porepp discussed Oxbow restoration, pollinator planting in unproductive field areas and water monitoring.

To learn more about how to participate in ISA’s research efforts, see https://www.iasoybeans.com/research/work-with-isa.