Getting Soil Ready for Higher Yields

After harvest is a great time to make sure soil is in the best condition to generate the highest yields possible for the upcoming season. It is key to make sure there are no nutrient deficiencies, so soil must be tested for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Deficiencies must be remedied to grow an optimal crop.…

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Get the Basics Right This Planting Season

If you pay attention to best management practices when preparing to plant and planting soybeans, you may be able to avoid expensive treatments and technologies later, and improve your profit. In a recent article from USB, an extension professor and agronomist from the University of Kentucky recommends soil testing, paying attention to which varieties work…

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Fungicide Classification Chart Available

Now that USB’s Take Action program has expanded to include efforts to combat fungicide resistance as well as herbicide resistance, a new fungicide classification chart has been created as a companion to the popular herbicide classification chart. Farmers have found the herbicide classification charts to be very useful and the fungicide chart should prove to…

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Four Ways to Trim Costs in 2016

With soybean prices predicted to be lower in 2016, it’s more important than ever for farmers to look at ways to lower costs. In fact, one farm management specialist from the University of Illinois recommends cutting costs by $100 per acre to remain profitable. Some areas to consider are farm machinery and capital purchases, fertilizer,…

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Four Questions to Ask Farm Data Providers

The marketplace for data-driven products and services is seeing rapid evolution in the field of agriculture.  The benefits for farmers are already well-recognized.  For starters, data helps farmers recognize trends with greater certainty, it can help validate decision-making and it leads to improved production practices immediately or over time. It also enables farmers to streamline…

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FoodCon 2020

The sixth annual FoodCon 2020 was held here in Raleigh last week. The business schools of NC State University, UNC and Duke University to serve as co-sponsors for the one-day event. The main goal for the conference was to bring a diverse audience of students, business professionals and community leaders who share an interest in…

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Foliar Fungicide Research Project Results

This article is the second in a series about research the NCSPA conducted with funding from soy checkoff in 2014 and 2015 to investigate fungicide application, timing and effectiveness. This post presents the results of the research projects. It is important to review the findings in the context of the weather in 2014 and 2015.…

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