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On December 16, 2017

The results of the 2017 Soybean Performance Trials have been posted at this link: https://extension.psu.edu/2017-soybean-performance-trials-posted-1 . Extension Agronomist Greg Roth explains this year’s report includes both early and late glyphosate resistant varieties at Rock Springs in Centre County and Landisville in Lancaster County.  In this test we included a description of traits to distinguish between Roundup Ready and Roundup Ready Xtend varieties.  At both sites we also conducted a non glyphosate trial that consisted of conventional, Liberty LInk and STS varieties.  We also included several glyphosate resistant checks in each of these tests to compare relative performance.  We also included a double crop trial at our Lancaster location that included glyphosate resistant varieties.  We have submitted grain samples from most entries for protein and oil analysis and those results will be posted when we get the data later in the winter.

The protein data from our 2016 trials have been posted here: https://extension.psu.edu/2016-soybean-variety-tests . We summarized the results of those recently.  Average protein levels in the seven trials we conducted last year ranged from 35.1 to 36.2 and averaged 35.7%.  Oil contents varied from 18.2 to 19.3 and averaged 19.0%.  In individual trials there was often a 3 percentage point spread in protein content among varieties.  At the late trial in Lancaster for example, varieties ranged from 34.1 to 37.5% protein.  Our results are consistent with those from the US Soybean Export Council, who reported soybeans from the east coast region averaged 35.2% protein.  This compared to 34.0% in the western corn belt.  This suggests that our soybeans tend to be slightly higher in protein that those from the upper Midwest and that with careful variety selection there could be a possibility of increasing protein content slightly if desired.

 

To Learn About New Restrictions For Xtend Soybeans For 2018

In 2017, there were approximately 89 million acres of soybeans grown in the US. About 20 million or so acres were Xtend or dicamba soybeans. Extension Agronomist Bill Curran reports in some areas of the country up to 60% of the soybean areas were planted to an Xtend variety. The exact amount of acres that actually applied either a pre or post application of dicamba is not known, however in many areas it was a rather large percentage. In Pennsylvania, there were about 580,000 acres of soybeans planted in 2017 and it is estimated that about 25 to 30% were Xtend varieties. Many commercial applicators in PA elected not to apply dicamba to Xtend soybeans this past season for various reasons, but mostly due to the liability for potential drift complaints. If dicamba was used, the majority was applied by the landowners themselves (private applicators).

In 2018 Dicamba use in Xtend soybean will require special applicator training and and there will be additional use restrictions. Expectations for the 2018 growing season are that the acres of Xtend soybeans will be around 50 million acres or more. And it is predicted that some regions will have a 75 to 80% adoption rate. However, it is not known how many of these acres will be sprayed with dicamba in order to control problem weeds such as marestail or Palmer amaranth or will some farms simply grow them as an insurance to protect from drift if their neighbor decides to spray dicamba. Either way, a good majority of the soybean acres across the US will be Xtend varieties.

It was estimated that the number of US soybean acres in 2017 that were affected by dicamba drift was about 3.6 million acres with noticeable injury. The majority of incidences occurred in the Midwest and South in states such as Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois. In Pennsylvania, there were no official dicamba drift injury complaints filed with the Department of Agriculture. However, there were some complains about 2,4-D injury on several vineyards across the state mostly mostly due to the fact that many applicators were spraying 2,4-D in burndown programs to control marestail. Unfortunately, this spray timing coincides with grape vines breaking dormancy, when potential injury is higher at budding and new growth. As far as other major injury complaints on other crops in Pennsylvania or in the Mid-Atlantic region, we understand they were minimal.

The dicamba products labeled for Xtend soybean have a conditional 2-year label that began in 2017. Recently, EPA reaffirmed this conditional use, but amended the label with additional requirements.  First and foremost, if you plan to apply dicamba to Xtend soybeans in 2018, applicators will need special training, preparation, and compliance with specific details. In 2018, the three Xtend-specific dicamba products, Engenia, Xtendimax, and FeXapan, will be classified as Restricted Use Products (or RUPs) and only those with dicamba-specific training and an earned certificate will be able to purchase and apply them. Also, since they are RUP’s, specific records must be maintained and the details about what information needs to be collected is on the herbicide label. Maximum wind speed during application has been lowered to 10 mph from 15. These products can only be applied during the daytime from sunrise to sunset. Other updates include additional information about sprayer clean-out and documenting potential nearby sensitive crops/vegetation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State Extension have discussed the new label requirements for approved dicamba products (Engenia, FeXapan, and Xtendimax) for use in dicamba-tolerant (Xtend) soybean.  Although Penn State Extension will provide educational support in the use of this technology at many of the local, regional, and statewide meetings in 2018, we are relying on the product registrants (BASF, DowDupont, and Monsanto) to train all applicators within Pennsylvania to meet certification requirements and provide the necessary completion certificate.  We will work with the registrants in achieving this goal and keep you informed about upcoming training opportunities.

 

To Congratulate Extension Weed Specialist Bill Curran, Extension Weed Specialist On His Retirement

Bill Curran earned his PhD Degree in Agronomy after five years working with Extension at the University of Illinois in 1990.  Over the course of his 30-year career, Bill has had many successes and was asked to share a summary of his career at the recent Keystone Crops Conference.

In his presentation, Bill touched on a number of things including introduction of the ALS inhibitors, Roundup Ready crops, increase in no-till, consolidation of the ag industry, renewed interest in cover crops. He concluded with challenges related to herbicide resistant weeds, which he indicated would be a challenge that future weed scientists will be asked to tackle.  During this same time, Bill noted

“We had six U.S. presidents, 2×2 inch slides and film cameras went extinct, floppy drives vanished and now we have to use “the cloud”, and we can now conduct meetings virtually without leaving the office.  What progress!”

Bill presented at many educational programs across the Commonwealth over the last 27 years, reporting on applied research results conducted in many different areas.  He co-authored over 60 papers in scientific journals. He credits many papers as a result of the 23 graduate students he advised, many of whom are successfully engaged in agriculture across the country.

Bill concludes “My retirement is bittersweet and I will miss seeing, talking, and working with all of you (farmers, industry and researchers alike).”  Bill and his wife Lucy are relocating to Bozeman, MT where skiing, biking, hiking, some ag-related things, and activities yet to be determined will take the lead.

 

Quote Of The Week: “Loving does not empty the heart nor does giving empty the purse.” Amish Proverb