2021 SureSpeed™ and SureForce™ Soybean Trial -Western IA

What We Were Testing For:

To determine if yield goals can be maintained through enhanced planting practices, while using SureSpeed™ and SureForce™, at reduced soybean populations. The agronomy team will conduct in-season visits to evaluate emergence and capture insights during the 2021 growing season.

Brett explains the population trial and evaluates the 60,000 plant/acre pass.

Population treatments are shown in AgFiniti®. Population blocks were planted with five population treatments starting at 140,000 plants/acre to 60,000 plants/acre.

Trial Location:
Western Iowa

Product Being Tested:
SureSpeed™ and SureForce™ Trial

Crop Type:
Soybeans

Cropping Practice:
No-Till

Early Season Findings:

 This trial was planted May 1st, which allowed time for this no-till ground to warm up prior to planting. The residue layer was thick, but it was spread evenly. The planter was equipped with no-till coulters and SureForce, which performed well creating a consistent seed trench. SureSpeed carries the seed to the trench, preventing seed bounce. This planting system was set up well and provided an excellent final stand relative to the target population. Target seed spacing is about 7” at the lowest population. To achieve success at this low population (60K), it is important that we achieve a consistent final stand. SureSpeed and SureForce are able to deliver, but it is important to consider the other factors that will affect the final stand, such as soil temperature, seed quality, seed treatment, soil conditions, residue, etc.

140k

60k

60k Nodules

60k on left, 140k on right

Outlying Factors:

Dry weather slowed the development of the soybeans throughout June. The full canopy was delayed, which likely will have reduced available soil moisture in the lower populations.

Harvest Observations and Insights:

This field was planted with a flat rate of 130K seeds/acre. The SureSpeed planter did produce an additional 1/3 bushel per acre. However, seed spacing is less critical at higher populations, which may be why the yield difference isn’t higher. Perhaps the most important lesson in this trial is that speed and productivity can be increased while planting, without sacrificing yield, which is evident in replication 1 and 2.

This is a summarization of data collected in one year and represents only what happened across the tested field in 2021. It is not a rigorous evaluation of factors that may or may not influence yield. Results may not predict future performance and may not be complete.