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The NDSU Extension weekly podcast In the Pod: Soybean Updates delivers timely insights and expert advice on soybean production.
You're listening to In The Pod, soybean updates, a weekly trek into the latest soybean information from NDSU Extension. Every growing season has its ups and downs. How did the soybean season measure up in Minnesota? Here with a report is Sergio Cabello Leiva, director of research for the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotional Council. Sergio, tell us about yourself.
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:Well, thank you, Bruce. I'm a soil scientist from Chile, graduate from NDSU, and I have lived actually and worked in North Dakota for seven years, including eight full growing season with the local cropping system.
Bruce Sundeen:What went well with Minnesota soybeans this year?
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:What stood out the most this year was how resilient soybean crop was across Minnesota. Even though we harvest a little fewer acres than last year, the crop performed really well. Our statewide yield increased to around 51 bushels per acre. If you think about it, that's more than 13% higher than last season. As a result, our total production rose to more than 361,000,000 bushels. So those numbers reflect what I saw in the countryside this year.
Bruce Sundeen:And on the flip side, what types of issues did the farmers have?
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:Well, that is important to consider the role of rainfall. Like, between mid May and mid August, many regions received two and six inches more rain than average. That extra moisture helped plants to grow fast and feed pots very well. But there is no season that is perfect. Right? The biggest concern was the first confirmed case of red crown rot in Minnesota. This disease is a soil borne fungus, And in highly infected fields, you can decrease yield by 4080%. As a farming community, we have to pay attention to this disease, and more information and research are coming soon. We also saw sudden death syndrome in water fields and iron deficiency chlorosis in high pH soils. And, of course, our main disease, soybean cyst nematode. Even when field looks healthy, soybean cyst nematode can still cause loss of 10 or 30% in our yields. Soybean variety and selection of soil testing soybean cyst nematode account are crucial to face this disease. I always tell farmers, problems are local. Two fields just miles apart can have completely different disease or pest pressures. That is why scouting, knowing your farm through soil and plant analysis, consulting with ag professional and also neighbors, and making informed decisions are essential in all cropping systems.
Bruce Sundeen:What type of research does the council support?
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:That's exactly where the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council focuses its efforts. Right now, the council is supporting 20 field research projects across the state. These projects focuses in agronomy, breeding, and integrated pest management. Our goal is to advance soybean production not only in yield, but also quality, profitability, and long term sustainability.
Bruce Sundeen:Sergio, what do you tell soybean farmers when they ask, how do we improve?
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:Revise and understand your own field history. If you have soybean cyst nematode, test again. If your soil have high pH, watch out for iron deficiency chlorosis. If you observe sudden death syndrome or red crown rot this year, mark those area and consider variety selection and rotation carefully, and also contact your act professional. On the research side, we are expanding studies on red crown rot to understand how it behaves in Minnesota conditions. We are also screening varieties for tolerance to sudden death syndrome and iron deficiency chlorosis and studying new management strategies for soybean season nematode. Other projects are focused in precision agriculture, nutrient management, and more, all helping farmers to use data to make better decisions. And we currently publish our statewide research report called from seed to solutions, includes agronomy, pest management, and breeding research supported by the soybean checkoff. I invite farmers that can access this report through mnsoybean.org.
Bruce Sundeen:Any final thoughts?
Sergio Cabello-Leiva:The Minnesota soybean research and promotion council is always willing to collaborate, help, and learn together. If you have ideas, concerns, or something new happening in your fields, please reach out. Together, we can keep soybean farming strong, profitable, and ready to the future.
Bruce Sundeen:Thanks, Sergio. Our guest has been Sergio Cabello Leiva, director of research for the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotional Council. You're listening to In the Pod, soybean updates, a weekly trek into the latest soybean information from NDSU Extension supported by the North Dakota Soybean Council.