Database Research SummariesSoybean Extension Group: Bringing Science to Farmers
Research Focus
Research is conducted by many entities, not all of which require reports to the end users of the information. Consequently, soybean farmers may not always have the latest information, or research may not be summarized and distributed until the end of a project, leaving a lag in information transfer that can delay its impact on soybean production. Our group bridges the gap between research and Extension to provide farmers and farm advisors with the most up-to-date information on integrated soybean management available each year.
Objectives
- Develop and distribute information on emerging and important soybean diseases
- Continue to work with this website, the Soybean Research and Information Network (SRIN), to develop soybean disease content.
- Incorporate agronomic and insect pest information into new and existing publications and the SRIN website
Results
- A Crop Protection Network website was created with updated functionality and resources at cropprotectionnetwork.org. Resources include a compilation of social media posts from multiple partners onto one resource, feature articles, an encyclopedia of information on soybean pests and diseases, images for 30 soybean diseases, and a library of crop protection publications.
- The website also includes sponsor information and directs viewers towards a sponsor webpage. In the first two months, the new website has had over 3,000 publication downloads from its library of PDF resources.
- Two publications on integrated soybean production issues were released in 2018:
Conley, S., Bradley, C., Chilvers, M., Giesler, L., Mueller, D., Sikora, E., Smith, D., Tenuta, A., Tilmon, K., and Wise, K. 2018. Considerations for selecting soybean varieties. Crop Protection Network: CPN 4004.
Wise, K., Bradley, C., Chilvers, M., Conley, S., Faske, T., Giesler, L., Mueller, D., Sikora, E., Smith, D., Tenuta, A., and Tilmon, K. 2018. Factors to consider before using a soybean seed treatment. Crop Protection Network: CPN 4003.
- Developed a web tool that allows for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) to gain continuing education units (CEUs) for reading Crop Protection Network publications and then passing a corresponding quiz. This tool is found at https://ceu.cropprotectionnetwork.org.
The web tool was released in June 2019 and more than 200 quizzes have been taken across a variety of topics, with 108 CEUs being awarded to CCAs on a variety of topics. - Created a new Crop Protection Network (CPN) homepage with updated functionality at https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/. The webpage also includes sponsor information and directs viewers towards sponsor webpages https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/sponsors/.
The new website went live on March 19, 2019. More than 20,000 PDF views of soybean-related publications have occurred, including those viewed since the previous website when live. - Created a new publication on soybean disease losses:
Soybean Disease Loss Estimates from the United States and Ontario, Canada – 2017. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190729-001 (2019) - Updated two publications on fungicide use in soybean:
Soybean Disease Management: Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Foliar Diseases (2019). Crop Protection Network: CPN 1019. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190620-014, and Soybean Disease Management: Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Seedling Diseases (2019). Crop Protection Network: CPN 1020. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190620-015
- Developed Feature articles for Soybean-related management topics at the CPN website:
Soybean Seed Quality Considerations for 2019. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190621-001
Foliar Fungicide Decisions for Late-Planted Crops. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190729-003
Diagnosing Interveinal Chlorosis in Soybeans – it’s not just SDS. Doi.org/10.31274/cpn-20190826-000.
These three feature articles have garnered nearly 4,000 views on the CPN website.
New members from North Dakota State University and the University of Arkansas were added to the CPN Executive Committee.
Importance
This project has a direct benefit to soybean farmers by providing current and timely Extension material to aid in the identification and management of emerging soybean diseases, and to fill the gaps in pest and disease topics which currently lack Extension information.
For more information about this research project, please visit the National Soybean Checkoff Research Database.
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff.
