Calling Illinois Soybean Growers-Again | The Bulletin: Pest Management and Crop Development Information for Illinois

By Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois

In January, the University of Illinois posted about the large project they are part of, funded by the North Central Soybean Research using soybean checkoff funds, to gather information on some 500 soybean fields in Illinois for each crop year from 2014 through 2017. The response has not been as enthusiastic as they had hoped, so they are again calling for help on this. With 10 million acres of soybean in Illinois, 500 fields is less than a quarter of a percent of fields. And since we’re requesting information on up to 4 fields per grower, having only 2 or 3 producers in each soybean-growing county do this would get it done.

This project described is as a “search to find what we should work on next” with regard to soybean research. The goal is to have thousands of fields in a large database, then to see how soil, weather, and management interact to produce yield.

To help, download the forms and other information at http://go.illinois.edu/soy-survey – if you want the fillable (PDF) formsemail me or email [email protected] The forms can be emailed back or printed and returned by mail.

We will provide a $50 gift card as an incentive for people to fill out forms. The gift card request form is included in the group of forms, and can be returned with them. It would be great if FFA and college students (maybe those on spring break) could get experience taking part in a scientific study and also earn a reward for their efforts.

If you have questions about this, or if you’d like forms mailed instead of downloading them, contact [email protected] or me by email.

Originally posted by the University of Illinois.