Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Joe Ikley

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Joe Ikley, North Dakota State University Extension Weed Specialist

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I did a summer internship as an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, my home state, and ended up working with the extension weed specialist there. He was the weed scientist for major agronomic crops, and soybeans are an important crop in Maryland. It took just that one summer to make me realize I wanted to work in weed control. I’ve worked in weed science and soybeans throughout my career. It’s a continuing challenge and it’s enjoyable to try to find solutions. 

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
Some of the most significant topics have been regional and national collaborations that I’ve been a part of — groups of scientists working at multiple sites with a unified goal. One of those projects was about cover crops and weed suppression with soybeans, and another one I worked on was with weed seeds using controlled devices, such as the seed terminator that grinds up weed seeds before they exit the combine, and how these can be integrated for overall weed control.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soybean checkoff funding is always good for helping us conduct the research from a financial standpoint. It also allows us to have students involved. I like to help train graduate and undergraduate students so they may have the same kind of passion I have for weed control. The checkoff has helped us conduct the research and help train the next generation of weed specialists.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?
One of the top recommendations for me is continuing to integrate different strategies for weed control in soybeans. Because we have herbicide resistance, which seems to be increasing, we are looking at other things that can be integrated into an operation — whether that is cover crops or weed seed destruction methods. We need to think beyond using herbicides solely to achieve weed control outcomes.

The other recommendation is timeliness of making herbicide applications. Knowing about the different herbicides is a foundation to build upon. With the weeds we are currently dealing with, farmers need to apply herbicide when the weeds are small to get the best control.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of farmers in the future?
We need to continue to evaluate integrated tactics for weed control that can be easily integrated or worked into a farming operation. These need to be methods that can be easily added to a farmer’s current operation such as the weed seed destruction devices. If it is easier to integrate, it’s more likely these practices will be adopted. 

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Matthew O’Neal

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Matthew O’Neal, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I wanted a job in applied entomology, and one opened up at Iowa State University. It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to work at the center of tackling key insect problems and helping a lot of people. Soybeans face a lot of challenges, so they offer many opportunities to help farmers. And in soybeans, we study beneficial insects as well as pests. My time is now split about 50/50 between pests and beneficial insects. 

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
I think my research on prairie strips in soybean and corn systems to improve honeybee productivity has the most potential to impact soybean production. Although soybeans don’t need pollinators, evidence suggests that soybean yield increases when pollinators do visit the plants. Bees support biodiversity, and they could also support soybean yields.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soy checkoff provides the foundation for getting research work done. It allows us to recruit, support and train students that conduct practical research, preparing them for jobs in the industry. Without the checkoff, none of this happens.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  • Scout. It’s hard, but it matters. Farmers tend to look at big fields, but insect populations change within the field. What insects are present? Where are they? What course of action should be taken? Scouting helps answer all these questions, and the answers can help limit insect resistance.
  • I recommend farmers include check strips with applications to see if what they chose to do worked. This practice also helps detect resistance. 
  • Follow local and regional extension updates about what is happening in the field. An abundance of information is available online, and it can help farmers make better decisions.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
I am personally curious about the interaction between pollinators and soybeans, an area where research could reveal synergies. We also need to do research on the biology of new pests as they appear. At the same time, we need breeding research to find traits that protect against these pests. Insecticides are not our only tools for pest management. 

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Avat Shekoofa

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Avat Shekoofa, Associate Professor, Crop Physiologist, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
During my undergraduate studies, I took a class on plant physiology that changed my life. I was fascinated by how plants respond to different environmental conditions. Soybeans are a strategic plant, extremely important to feeding the world. I am interested in how they respond to different stress factors, and my research plays a role in ensuring efficient soybean production continues and improves.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
Water use and availability is the biggest issue for agriculture, and many research discussions go back to that. My research related to better, more efficient use of water for soybean production, whether it focuses on irrigation timing, cover crops or genetics, has the biggest impact on long-term soybean production.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
I am thankful to the Tennessee Soybean Board for funding soybean research. I also appreciate that they come with their questions about production, which tell us if our research is meeting their needs. Working with the farmers and checkoff funding refines the process of prioritizing research as we dig into ideas, apply what we learn and share the results. With their help, we develop more ideas, fund students’ work and find answers to help more farmers.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  • They should be open to using new technologies, especially tools that save water. They should learn about available irrigation technologies and consider how to incorporate them to improve water use efficiency.
  • They also can make better production decisions when they are aware of the production aspects of their land. They need to understand soil type, soil quality and water availability. Then, they should use the data and resources available to them to make sound decisions. Those resources include researchers, specialists and local extension agents who can provide information to help make production decisions.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
Farmers need research into how soybean varieties can better manage environmental impacts and extreme weather conditions. They also need research about how to use new technology and precision tools. In my opinion, improving collaboration between agricultural scientists and engineers will help improve both crop water use efficiency management and crop productivity.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Mike Marshall

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Mike Marshall, Assistant Professor, Agronomic and Forage Weed Science, Clemson University

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
During my undergraduate studies, a weed science class sparked my interest, especially because managing weed pressure applies in any crop. As my education and career progressed, I focused on weed science, which allows me to work in all crops, including soybeans. 

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
I work to help farmers manage weeds. My research comparing products and programs and demonstrating the impact of weeds on crop yields provides them with practical data that allows them to better control weeds in their fields. 

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soy checkoff helps provide funding for student workers and research costs, and that helps a lot. With that support, I can do relatively simple — yet very impactful — short-term studies that help farmers every year. I am very appreciative of that funding.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  • Spray weeds on time, to increase the effectiveness of control.
  • Scout and observe changes in weed populations over time. This helps farmers notice problems like herbicide resistance or the appearance of new weeds so they can stay ahead of these problems.
  • Practice rotating herbicide modes of action when possible. Make a list of the herbicides and modes of action used in each crop and change them up from one crop to another. Today, all our major crops in South Carolina tend to use herbicides from the same families, so crop rotation isn’t necessarily effective in supporting herbicide rotation. One way to minimize this challenge is to include two or three herbicide modes of action in the tank every time they spray weeds.  

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of farmers in the future?
We need research to help us understand how changing climates and weather patterns impact weeds. Weeds tend to thrive under high temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, and research will help us understand if they could become more aggressive in the future.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Alyssa Koehler

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Alyssa Koehler, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology, University of Delaware

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I have always loved plants. Growing up, I was familiar with agriculture, and I started working at a plant nursery in high school. I also liked math and science and planned to go in that direction in college. I Googled plant jobs and applied for a plant pathology lab job, where I fell in love with the field. Though my graduate research covered other plants, my degree naturally led to a field crops job, and today I farm with my husband on the side. I want to provide practical solutions for farmers.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
My nematode research is important for the Mid-Atlantic region. We are a little south of north and a little north of south, and we have sandy soils. That means we have nematodes everywhere. My work starts with raising awareness of nematode pressure and then finding solutions with great potential to improve soybean yields.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
As extension faculty, we want to learn interesting and cool things to share with farmers at winter meetings. The soy checkoff provides a great way to find short-term answers to production questions. This funding supports practical, short-term, applied research that can contribute to longer-term solutions, while also allowing us to share relevant updates at winter meetings.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?
Control measures for nematodes should start even before planting. Farmers need to be aware of the nematode populations in their fields, so they should take soil samples and get nematode counts. Then, they should take note of the varieties they are planting. Choose soybean varieties with resistance to nematodes and foliar pathogens that could be problems in their fields. The soil tests and variety selection also provide more information to make the best in-season management decisions.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of farmers in the future?
Breeding for resistance in varieties is critical. Farmers need seed optimized for performance in their fields, and that starts with plants that can defend against problems. Breeding research to improve resistance to nematodes, diseases and more will be critical. We also need research to understand and manage fungicide resistance.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Lisa Fultz

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Lisa Fultz, Associate Professor, School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University AgCenter

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I am a classically trained soil scientist, with a focus on soil microbiology. I find soybeans fascinating to work with because of their ability to make relationships with soil biota.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
The ongoing, long-term research projects I work on are the focal point for leveraging additional support for conservation and cover crop research. Because we have years of research, we can answer farmers’ questions or develop research that will answer them. More farmers are expressing interest in cover crops because of our early research.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board is open to a wide range of research. I am not a traditional agronomist. Instead, my research focuses on conservation practices and their potential to improve soil health and quality. The soy checkoff supports research like mine to find answers to practical questions farmers have about those conservation practices and their value. 

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  • Farmers should allow some type of growth in their fields over the winter, whether that be cover crops or even winter weeds. That ground cover protects the soil and feeds the microbial community to support nutrient cycling.
  • Limiting soil disturbance when possible both reduces trips through the field and causes less disturbance to the soil biota, supporting better soil health.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of farmers in the future?
A wide range of soil amendments are becoming available to farmers, like biostimulants and seed inoculants that claim to support the soil biological communities. We need research to understand the short- and long-term impacts of these products, their potential benefits and their contributions — if any — to sustainable production. 

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Josh McGinty

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Josh McGinty, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I grew up raising cattle rather than crop farming. When I was ready to start my doctorate degree, a weed scientist recruited me to his program, where I appreciated how much easier research can be in row crops compared to pastures. My current position is in row crop research, and I love it. My role is 100% extension, so my research is driven by what growers in the area want to learn. I do lots of research on crops with limited acreage like soybeans, but farmers want data on these minor crops. Soybeans are a novelty in the area, and my research translates to relevant data that will help farmers determine how to add soybeans to their crop rotations.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
Screening soybean varieties for tolerance to iron deficiency chlorosis addresses the biggest issue in local soybeans, so it has the potential to make the biggest impact. Identifying germplasm that can handle our alkaline soils makes soybeans a legitimate option.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soy checkoff is the whole reason I can do this research. No other sources for soybean research funding are available in this area, and regional farmers and I all appreciate the support. 

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?
First, when growing soybeans, stick to proven germplasm. Select varieties that will work in specific soils and fields. Then, plant them early — though not too early. Planting dates should allow soybeans to take advantage of rains that will help fill out pods. 

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
In the Texas Gulf Coast region, we have issues with different herbicide-resistant weeds than much of the rest of the country, like false ragweed. Soybean herbicides provide a wider variety of modes of action than the cotton and grain sorghum herbicides we rely on most. I would like to test more soybean herbicides to see if they provide new options for our problem weeds.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Marisol Quintanilla

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Marisol Quintanilla, Assistant Professor and Applied Nematologist, Michigan State University

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
My family has a farm in Chile, growing table grapes for export. We also grow corn, soybeans and vegetables on other parts of the farm. I studied agriculture in Chile and wanted to finish my degree in the United States. I attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Unbeknownst to me, Andrews faculty contacted professors at Michigan State University and recommended me for graduate school. While working on my master’s and Ph.D. at MSU, I studied under Dr. George Bird, a nematologist who worked with soybeans. 

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
I was part of research on the rotation of different soybean varieties, and we found if we rotate PI88788 with Peking, there is significantly more yield and fewer nematodes. Peking does very well in the first year, but with time, if planting Peking back-to-back, there is significant reduction in yield and increases in nematode numbers. We recommend to farmers that they should use Peking as a tool in rotation with PI88788. 

My work on applying composts and manures to help reduce SCN numbers in the soil is showing promise. I’m also working on trying to improve soil health and changing the environment of the soil to make it less friendly for nematodes. 

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The Michigan Soybean Committee has been amazing. They are so supportive, and they have provided advice and funding for many years. I am tremendously grateful for their support.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  1. Check your SCN numbers in your soil. 
  2. If you have SCN, rotate crops with non-hosts. Also rotate sources of resistance — PI88788 with Peking.
  3. There are other practices that play minor roles but are still important, such as using nematicide seed treatments and adding compost or manures, which seems to make some difference in SCN numbers.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
I think finding new, different sources of resistance so there are more options to rotate with Peking and PI88788 is critical. Adding sources that work with different mechanisms keeps the nematode guessing, and it has less chance to adapt, to develop resistance to the resistance.

Also, developing more effective chemicals is important, which is a challenge. I think part of the challenge is dosage. It’s hard to find something so miraculous and that can last for a long time, considering it is just a powder coating on a seed. Even when it works well, it’s only effective for the first few weeks. 

We need to better understand the soil environment that SCN prefer. We could modify the soil environment with amendments to make it less friendly to SCN. There may be currently unknown products or management practices we can use.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Shawn Hawkins

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Shawn Hawkins, Professor of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I earned my degrees in chemical and environmental engineering, and I worked in hazardous waste removal for years. My advanced studies included focus on how bacteria grow. After earning my doctorate degree, I saw a job posting for an extension position. Though I didn’t really understand what it was, it sounded like the perfect fit for me. I express dense information in ways that make sense to farmers. I enjoy working with farmers and helping them. Now I focus on animal waste management, offering a valuable service to soybean and corn farmers. I enjoy the applied research needed to answer their questions, which includes research on manure management and soybeans.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
My research on the direct application of poultry litter for soybean production has the most potential to help farmers. For first-time users of poultry litter as fertilizer, the data from this research will help answer their practical questions so they can maximize the value of that input.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soy checkoff is critical. My research projects operate on a shoestring budget, and replicate soil, plant tissue and harvested grain tests are expensive. The checkoff is the only outside source of funding available for hard costs like the analysis for more than 100 soil samples at a time. Checkoff funding makes it possible for me to do impactful work and provide valuable research data efficiently.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

  • Soil test! They are important to a farmer’s bottom line. Soil tests allow producers to apply agronomic, economical nutrients at rates that support profitability.
  • Fertilize crops based on soil tests and field history, regardless of the type of fertilizer used. But understand fertilizer options and choose a source that provides maximum value for field and crop needs.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
Farmers are expressing lots of interest in variable rate potassium (K) application. This is an area where research about split and variable rate applications would help farmers nail down best practices.

Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – Michael Maw

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Michael Maw, Assistant Professor of Agronomy, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I have a background in crop physiology and soybean production in Georgia, and I earned my masters and doctorate degrees at Mizzou. When I returned to Georgia to teach, my dad was struggling to find soybean varieties for ultra-late planting, so I had a personal interest in finding answers. During fall semesters, I teach a crop production class. Planting and researching ultra-late soybean production provides excellent educational opportunities for my students in those classes and undergraduates interested in applied research.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
My research projects allow me to mentor future researchers and crop production company employees, providing applied ag research experience at the undergraduate level. This experience better prepares them to serve farmers throughout their careers.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
The soy checkoff provides funding for undergraduate student research and supplements needs at our teaching farm to offset research project costs. These funds are essential for me to conduct applied soybean research.

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?
Farmers should embrace a cultural shift to see soybeans as a valuable crop that can provide profit if managed well. Many farmers plant soybeans on their least productive ground and do minimal crop management throughout the season. Instead, they should treat soybeans like a crop that can make a profit — because they can.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of famers in the future?
I believe we need continued investment and research in variety development for Southern soybeans. With current breeding trends, we are losing good determinate varieties that fit this region.