Farmers Fund Research on Soybean Production Practices

South Dakota soybean farmers fund important research on production practices — including weed management, insect and disease control, tillage practices and more — through their checkoff to improve on-farm outcomes and support overall profitability. Each year, the nine elected district directors who comprise the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council board help identify and allocate money toward research priorities.

2024-25 Production Research

Here is a quick look at some of the current projects identified by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council that are aimed at production practices:

Soybean Cyst Nematode

SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Specialist Madalyn Shires has worked on tracking the spread of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in South Dakota thanks to checkoff funding for the past several years. She describes SCN as a "silent yield-robber," and her hope is to be able to equip farmers to mitigate its impact as best they can. "We can gather the data, we can tell them what it means, and then just try to support [producers] in making the best management decisions and try to manage disease issues as much as possible," Shires said.

Dectes Stem Borer

Though typically more common to sunflower rotations, Dectes stem borer has increasingly impacted soybean production in South Dakota in recent years. SDSU Extension Field Crop Entomologist Adam Varenhorst oversees checkoff-funded research on, among other aspects, insecticide application timing to more effectively manage Dectes stem borer. "Ideally, we'd like to get to a point where we can have a model to figure out when the larvae are going to be pupating and when the adults would begin emerging," Varenhorst explained, noting that the ideal application window can vary from year to year based on a number of environmental factors.

Foliar Diseases in Soybeans

SDSU Extension Plant Pathologist Shyam Solanki studies foliar diseases in soybeans, and his checkoff-funded research is taking a closer look at forecast models and applications to help identify and treat for white mold, frogeye leaf spot and sudden death syndrome. Under his direction, a group of SDSU Extension graduate students are also working on developing an app for farmers that helps them better manage pathogen pressure. "We wanted to make it easier for farmers to identify diseases, know what tools they have, and take timely action," said Solanki. "This app is designed to do exactly that.”

Soybean Production with Strip-Tillage

Peter Kovács is Associate Professor for Precision Agriculture Cropping Systems at South Dakota State University. He is currently undertaking research supported by the checkoff to study strip tillage and sidedress fertilizer applications. This is of particular importance as farmers evaluate the economics, yield outcomes and soil health benefits of various tillage practices. While he notes that many South Dakota farmers have already adopted conservation practices, Kovács is interested in a cost-benefit analysis when incorporating precision nutrient application. "How can we be more efficient?" he asked. "Not just with yield, but even the quality of the soybean—the protein and oil side of the grain composition."

Stay Up to Date on Soybean Research

Want to know more about current research? The South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council hosts several events throughout the year, including the annual Soy100 Seminar, to keep farmers informed about the latest insights into best practices. Farmers can also use the checkoff-sponsored On-Farm Research tool to contribute data to help inform soybean production research conducted by SDSU Extension.