"If I wasn't a farmer, I'd be an agronomist," says Lancaster County, Pa., soybean farmer Bob Shearer. Shearer is one of the farmer/cooperators participating in the 2016 PA On-Farm Network field trials. He is taking part in an insecticide and fungicide study on his farm, comparing new products on the market to some of the older ones.

Related: Does soybean seed treatment pay?

He is also participating in a population study. After last year’s study of 100,000, 125,000 and 150,000 plants per acre, he planted lower populations of early beans this spring based on the results of population studies done in prior years.

Catch his comments here.

LOWERING BEAN POPs: After last year’s study, Shearer says he has reduced soybean populations back “a step”.

About this weekly network report
This Pennsylvania Soybean On-Farm Network report centers on applied research projects of interest to Pennsylvania soybean growers. It’s a collaborative effort of the Pennsylvania Soybean Board and Penn State Extension. This is the first in a weekly growing season series.

A portion of the check-off funds from every bushel of soybeans sold in Pennsylvania is allocated for research to benefit soybean farmers for increasing utilization or production of soybeans. The Soybean Check-Off board of directors is comprised of soybean farmers from across the Commonwealth who determine research priorities.

The On-Farm Network project, spearheaded by Penn State Extension’s Voight, provides real-life, on-farm production-scale data to aid farmers in ongoing crop management decision-making. Farms throughout Pennsylvania with varying field, equipment and crop conditions contribute to the project’s data.