Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Purdue University is seeking test plots for a soybean study.
Dr. Shawn Conley, Purdue soybean specialist, is writing a grant to study cropping systems and decisions in planting soybeans because of the location of the soybean processing plant in Claypool.
He needs 10 farmers who would be interested in working with him on this project. The farms do not have to be in the Claypool area. The project will involve some scouting, soil testing and nematode testing. Participating producers will receive information from the study.
The state has three biodiesel facilities, which use soybeans, currently under construction.
Once in operation they will use 20 percent of the soybeans produced in Indiana.
Conley wants to compile data regarding the impact these facilities may have on the sustainability and stability of local and regional agricultural ecosystems.
Purdue and Conley would like to provide a detailed analysis and characterization of system diversity, sustainability and health as growers migrate from long-standing corn/soybean rotation to a continuous soybean production system near a biodiesel facility, using the world's largest biodiesel facility, located near Claypool, as a model system.
A four-year study will be conducted in a large acreage replicated commercial soybean fields to evaluate the following management scenarios:
• Continuous soybean with intensive management (pesticide treatments as needed).
• Continuous soybean with low management (a single herbicide application).
• A corn-soybean rotation farmed with best management practices.
In each system research will include quantifying and characterizing the diversity of pest and beneficial insect species, weed species, microbial communities and nematode and fungal pathogens.
An economic analysis will document all input costs, output costs and premiums.
Interested producers should contact Kelly Easterday, Kosciusko County Extension educator, agriculture, at 574-372-2340, or e-mail her at keasterday @purdue.edu
Conley is still in the grant-writing stage, names of collaborators are important to success.
Easterday needs to have a list of names by Nov. 15.
