EAST LANSING, Mich. — Come find the answers to some key agronomic research questions at the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Update meetings coming to multiple locations throughout the state in January.
Some of those questions will include:
- Soybean seeding rate continues to be a very important topic for farmers according to grower surveys. Trials were conducted over 7 years at 66 locations from 2015 to 2021, and 11 additional sites were included in 2024. What seeding rates produced the highest yields, and which were most profitable?
- Early planting date had been studied in on-farm trials from 2019 to 2023 at 14 locations, but in 2024 we included two maturity groups at two planting dates. Did a longer maturity group variety do better at either planting date?
- Yield was significantly higher at 8 of 10 locations in 2023 when Delaro Complete was applied at R3 for a “plant health” effect. The same trial was conducted at 11 locations in 2024 — did we find the same yield differences?
Michigan Soybean Committee and Michigan State University Extension invite soybean growers and agribusinesses to attend regional meetings in January 2025 to hear results of the 2024 soybean on-farm research projects. Participants will learn about historical climate trends that are impacting our growing season in Michigan. They will also have an opportunity to provide input into the research projects to be conducted in 2025. Time will be available for questions and discussion.
When and where:
- January 3 (Southeast Michigan): Lenawee Christian Center Auditorium, 111 Wolf Creek Hwy, Adrian, MI 49221 (part of the Center for Excellence Crop Day)
- January 9 (Central Michigan): AgroLiquid, 3055 M-21, St. Johns, MI 48879
- January 14 (Bay region): Uptown North Main, 975 N Main St., Frankenmuth, Michigan 48734
- January 15 (Thumb region): Beagio’s Pizza, 5795 Sanilac Rd., Kingston, MI 48741
- January 21 (Southwest Michigan): GreenMark Equipment, 16700 Heimbach Rd., Three Rivers, MI 49093
- January 22 (West Michigan): Zeeland Farm Services Inc., 2525 84th Ave., Zeeland, MI 49464
Time: All programs begin with registration at 9 a.m. (except Adrian which will begin at 8 a.m.)
Agenda: The following agenda is for all locations (except Adrian which will follow the Center for Excellence Crops Day agenda)
- 9 a.m. Registration and coffee
- 9:15 a.m. Soybean Checkoff and Association Updates — Local Michigan Soybean Committee/Association board members
- 9:30 a.m. 2024 Soybean On-farm Research Trial Results — Eric Anderson, MSU Extension Soybean Educator
- 10:40 a.m. Break
- 11 a.m. Climate Trends and Agricultural Impacts in the Great Lakes Region — Jeff Andresen, MSU Climatologist
- 11:45 a.m. Identify Potential 2025 Research Projects and Discussion — Mark Seamon and Eric Anderson
- 12:15 p.m. Complimentary lunch (courtesy of Michigan Soybean Committee)
- 1 p.m. Credits, evaluation and adjourn
Cost and registration: Through farmer investments in the soybean checkoff, Michigan Soybean Committee is pleased to partner with MSU Extension and cover all meeting costs. However, pre-registration is requested to ensure an accurate count for lunch and materials. You can register online by clicking the link below. For help registering for any of the regional meetings, call the St. Joseph County Extension office at 269-467-5511. Please pre-register seven days prior to the date for each location.
Register for Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Update Meetings
(https://events.anr.msu.edu/SoybeanResearchUpdate2025)
Credits: This program has been approved for two pesticide applicator recertification (RUP) credits. Credits in Adrian will be offered by the Center for Excellence.
Coming soon to a mailbox near you…
Each year the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research Report is published, printed and mailed to over 9,000 soybean farmers throughout Michigan. The 2024 edition should be arriving in mailboxes around the first week of January. The report includes all information that will be presented at the regional meetings along with a few “bonus feature” articles.
If you are not a soybean farmer in Michigan but would like to read the results from the 2024 season—or if you want to review results from the past several years—you can view the reports online(https://www.michigansoybean.org/on-farm-research.html) by visiting the Michigan Soybean Committee website and clicking on On-Farm Research under the For Farmers tab.
— Michigan State University Extension
