Checkoff funded research has helped identify a previously unused gene pool from Europe which will enable scientists to breed more weather-tolerant soybeans. Check out this new video from USB featuring North Carolina’s own Dr. Tommy Carter of the USDA, discussing the work they are doing to improve the tolerance of soybeans to a variety of…
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Remember the wet weather and ensuing problems with the soy crop this time last year? This year’s situation for soy growers is much more promising in comparison. Back of the envelope calculations show that N.C. soy growers failed to realize at least $40,000,000 in sales last year. The 2015 crop was adequate in terms of…
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From Jim Dunphy, Crop Science Extension Specialist (Soybeans) and Lindsey Thiessen, Extension Plant Pathologist Asiatic Soybean Rust has been confirmed on soybeans in Bamberg County, SC, which is a little closer to some of our NC soybeans than had previously been confirmed. This find is approximately 140 miles from Charlotte, 345 miles from Elizabeth City, 175 miles…
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Economic thresholds are developed by researchers to let farmers know when to invest in managing an insect, disease or pest to keep it from reaching an economic injury level (EIL). The EIL is when the crop value lost to injury exceeds the cost of treatment. Using thresholds are an important tool for farmers in knowing…
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Did you spot the use of soy while watching the Olympics? The 17 days of competition took place in host city Rio de Janeiro, where the three electrical transformers powering the games were built with Cargill’s Envirotemp® FR3® natural ester fluid, which is soybean-oil based. Power utility company Light, which already uses FR3® in its…
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Scouting is one of the most important things you can do to identify issues in the field and choose the most cost-effective course of action to solve them. Use this chart as a reminder of the steps to get it done right.
Over 50 farmers and sales reps gathered in Scotland Neck yesterday for a Soybean/Cotton Field Day. A foggy morning turned into a hot day but that didn’t stop us. For the soybean part, Dr. Jim Dunphy discussed variety selection and planting date. Fifteen different RoundUp Ready varieties were on display for folks to look at.…
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Representatives of China’s top soy processors visited North Carolina on Friday – Saturday Aug. 26-27. The trade team was on a multi-state U.S. tour organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC.) The team had an unforgettable experience on the Fleming Brothers farm in Halifax County and at the Ram Albemarle Club on the Roanoke…
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There are many benefits to adding cover crops into a rotation, including the potential for increased profit, reduced inputs, reduction in herbicide use, improved water filtration and erosion control and runoff prevention. Learn more in THIS ARTICLE about why cover crops are worth considering.
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Drones are impressive technology to be sure, but how can farmers use them to be more effective? They can be useful in scouting for weeds and pests, measuring crop health, monitoring water damage and evaluating weather damage just for starters. Learn more about how drones can help improve efficiency in THIS ARTICLE from USB and…
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Sprayer technologies, including variable-rate application technologies, sensors and control systems for site-specific crop management, can help farmers improve effectiveness while reducing inputs and costs. THIS ARTICLE FROM USB explores technological advances in spraying technology, how the advances benefit farmers and new technologies on the horizon in a Q&A with Joe Luck, Ph.D., assistant professor of…
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U.S. soy has grown significantly since the formation of the checkoff in 1991. The value of the U.S. crop has grown from $11 billion then to almost quadruple that in 2014 at $40 billion. The increase has been fueled by an increase in demand, due in part to the efforts of the checkoff to create…
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