In-Season Agronomy

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Projects in our In-Season Agronomy category span the decisions you make each year related to rotational crops, variety selection, planting strategies, nutrient management, weather challenges, etc., all with the goal of sustainably maximizing yield and profit.

Projects

Which Soybean Varieties Have Higher Protein and Oil Content so I Can Capitalize on Premium Pricing?Marlee Silberman2025-10-03T17:43:30-05:00

Which Soybean Varieties Have Higher Protein and Oil Content so I Can Capitalize on Premium Pricing?

Variety trials are planted across the state’s major soil types and maturity zones. By using the SCIO CNST NIR technology on the combine, researchers can more quickly determine the protein and oil content of each tested variety. Farmers can access performance data on the UI Variety Trial website at vt.cropsci.illinois.edu.

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An Economic Evaluation of the Impacts of Site-Specific Management for Increasing Soybean Production in Southern IllinoisMarlee Silberman2025-10-03T17:43:30-05:00

An Economic Evaluation of the Impacts of Site-Specific Management for Increasing Soybean Production in Southern Illinois

To help close the soybean yield gap between average and record yields, this project will break down management practices based on the specific needs of different areas within a field. It will define the yield variability within a field as high, medium and low; identify seeding rates that can help optimize yield; better understand the role biologicals can play in crop nutrient utilization; and evaluate the economics of site-specific management compared to whole-field management practices.

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What Are Some New Soyleic™ Varieties That Are High Yielding and Allow Me To Take Advantage of This Value-Added Market Opportunity?Marlee Silberman2025-10-06T14:15:14-05:00

What Are Some New Soyleic™ Varieties That Are High Yielding and Allow Me To Take Advantage of This Value-Added Market Opportunity?

To help Illinois soybean farmers capitalize on market opportunities for high oleic, low linolenic (HOLL) soybean oil, this project continues the breeding efforts to select and license varieties that combine competitive yields with the value-added SOYLEIC™ trait. The team has a full breeding pipeline and intends to release two to four new varieties each year.

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Evaluating Leaf Nutrient Tissue Testing and Relation to Soybean Grain YieldMarlee Silberman2025-10-08T10:58:37-05:00

Evaluating Leaf Nutrient Tissue Testing and Relation to Soybean Grain Yield

Because soybeans can remobilize nutrients from lower to newly developing nodes, more information is needed to understand which nutrients and in what quantities are made available to new nodes. This project uses tissue testing to gain these insights and help establish more accurate and timely in-season nutrient recommendations to maximize soybean yield.

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Enhancing the Profitability of Wheat-Soybean Double CroppingAlison McKenney2025-10-08T11:26:00-05:00

Enhancing the Profitability of Wheat-Soybean Double Cropping

Double cropping soybeans after winter wheat is an attractive approach to enhancing profitability in Midwest crop rotations and improving soil health. This project is identifying high-yielding winter wheat varieties that can be harvested earlier and enable earlier planting of double-crop soybeans to maximize yield potential.

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Which Preemergence Herbicides Are More Likely To Cause Crop Injury When Soybeans Are Planted Early?Alison McKenney2025-10-06T13:37:55-05:00

Which Preemergence Herbicides Are More Likely To Cause Crop Injury When Soybeans Are Planted Early?

Planting soybeans early often means cold, wet soil conditions that can delay seed germination and prolong plant emergence. These conditions can reduce the plant’s ability to metabolize preemergence herbicides, resulting in crop injury. This project is testing several herbicides and classes of chemistry to better understand which are more prone to cause crop injury under early planting conditions.

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Bioherbicides to Control Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp in Soybeans Alison McKenney2025-10-03T17:43:15-05:00

Bioherbicides to Control Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp in Soybeans 

Develop and test bioherbicides that specifically target palmer amaranth (pigweed) and waterhemp without harming soybeans, while creating a commercialization roadmap to provide farmers with a cost-effective, sustainable weed control option.

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Evaluating the Impact of Cover Crops on Lesion Nematodes in SoybeansAlison McKenney2025-10-03T17:43:15-05:00

Evaluating the Impact of Cover Crops on Lesion Nematodes in Soybeans

Assess how cover crops influence lesion nematode populations and their impact on soybean yield through field and greenhouse studies, while identifying and evaluating the pathogenicity of different lesion nematode species found in Illinois.

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Improving Soybean Protein Quality Through Genetic and Environmental CharacterizationAlison McKenney2025-10-03T17:43:14-05:00

Improving Soybean Protein Quality Through Genetic and Environmental Characterization

Evaluate genetic variation and environmental effects on amino acid composition in soybean breeding lines to identify stable, high-protein genotypes that meet the nutritional demands of feed and food markets.

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Are you a farmer or advisor?

If you’re a farmer or advisor, we invite you to take our Growing Concerns Survey linked below to help guide future ISA research efforts. We also encourage you to contact us below with specific production challenge research ideas.

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Are you a researcher?

If you’re a researcher interested in working with ISA on a project, we encourage you to contact us with your ideas. The RFP will open in early March. Contact us below to be added to the mailing list for more information.

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Interested in learning more about this and other topics?

The research archive isn’t the only place to learn about the latest developments in soybean production. Check out the online library for a variety of information about topics that matter to you.

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Interested in learning more about this and other topics?

Visit the Online Library to learn more about related projects and more!

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