UGA Cooperative Extension Agents across Georgia are holding production meetings for corn and soybean growers. For more information on meetings in your area, call your local county Extension office. Thanks to Dr. Reagan Noland, Extension Grains Agronomist, for providing this information.

GEORGIA SOYBEAN 

COMMODITY  COMMISSION 

WINTER 2017/2018

Georgia Soybean News

Farmers Putting

Soybean Checkoff

Dollars to Work for

You

Seed selection to maximize yield

2

UGA Soybean Short Course - March 5

3

Healthy Soil, Healthy Yield

3

USB Online Grower Resources

4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Upcoming Soybean / Corn County Production Meetings

COUNTY DATE MEAL

JEFFERSON/WASHINGTON/JOHNSON 12/7/2017 LUNCH

BURKE 12/7/2017 DINNER

BROOKS 12/8/2017 LUNCH

DADE/CATOOSA/MURRAY/WHITFIELD 12/13/2017 LUNCH (BEFORE)

FLOYD/BARTOW/CHATTOOGA/GORDON/POLK 12/13/2017 LUNCH (AFTER)

SEMINOLE/MILLER 12/20/2018 LUNCH

IRWIN/BEN HILL 1/3/2018 LUNCH

GRADY 1/9/2018 LUNCH

ELBERT/MADISON/HART 1/11/2018 LUNCH

MORGAN 1/11/2018 DINNER

RANDOLPH/TERRELL 1/16/2018 LUNCH

LEE/DOUGHERTY 1/16/2018 DINNER

LAURENS/WILKINSON 1/19/2018 LUNCH

ATKINSON 2/1/2018 LUNCH

DECATUR/MILLER 2/7/2018 LUNCH

WILCOX/PULASKI 2/8/2018 BREAKFAST

MACON/HOUSTON/TALYOR/PEACH 2/8/2018 LUNCH

CRISP/DOOLY 2/8/2018 DINNER

MONTGOMERY/TOOMBS/TRUETLEN 2/9/2018 LUNCH

PIERCE 2/13/2018 BREAKFAST

JEFF DAVIS 2/16/2018 BREAKFAST

WHEELER/TELFAIR 2/16/2018 LUNCH

JENKINS/SCREVEN 2/20/2018 LUNCH

EFFINGHAM/BRYAN 2/20/2018 DINNER

TRUETLEN/EMANUEL/CANDLER 2/21/2018 LUNCH

TATTNALL/EVANS 2/23/2018 LUNCH

Page 2 Georgia Soybean News

The time to start making soybean variety selections is right around the corner. Picking the right varieties is a crucial step on the way to raising high-yielding soybeans. The importance of variety selection can-not be understated, according to Trent Irby, Ph.D., extension soybean specialist at Mississippi State University. “One could argue that variety selection is the most important management decision that a producer will make each year,” says Irby. “If a variety is planted in the wrong situation, the overall yield potential may be reduced.” Greg Greving, a United Soybean Board director from Chapman, Nebraska, says it’s not hard to under-stand the importance of picking varieties that are best suited to his fields. “You need to start with good seed if you expect to make a good crop,” says Greving. “We look closely at as much data as we can to find varieties that fit our ground and conditions.” Fortunately, there are many resources available to farmers to help make the seed-selection process eas-ier. Irby advises farmers to check their local university variety-testing programs for results and to try and gather as much information as they can before determining which varieties they will purchase. He says variety-demonstration programs can also be valuable to farmers for varietal assessment. Here in Georgia, the UGA Statewide Variety Testing program provides annual performance testing re-sults on several commodities including soybeans, small grains and forage, corn, peanuts, and other field crops. To see what varieties perform well in your area of the state, visit www.swvt.uga.edu. In addition, field days provide farmers with opportunities to see varieties firsthand and observe growth habits and the overall look of the plant. While field days can be useful, Irby cautions that variety-selection decisions should be based on information collected from multiple locations or resources in ad-dition to what may be observed at a field day. Like most farmers, Greving looks to yield first when selecting varieties, but he knows that cannot be the sole basis for variety selection. “Yield is always important, but we have other criteria that factor in to our decisions,” Greving says. “We have varying types of ground and soils that we must match up with varieties that fit best. We also look at the oil and protein content to make sure we’re growing a quality product.” Sometimes farmers may need to use more specific factors, such as disease and herbicide packages, when selecting varieties. Resistance to specific races of soybean cyst nematode, Phytophthora root rot or other diseases may be essential to achieving high yield in a particular field. “Depending on the issue, be it disease pressure or nematode pests, variety selection is an excellent start-ing point for managing those issues,” Irby says. Since the varieties selected for planting will directly affect a farmer’s yield potential and profits, the process should not be rushed. There are many third-party resources and data available from seed com-panies. Farmers are encouraged to review as much reliable data as possible before making final deci-sions. (Summarized from an article provided by United Soybean Board)

Seed selection to maximize potential yield & profits

Georgia Soybean Commodity Commission

The Georgia/Florida Soybean Association and the Georgia Soybean Commodity Commission present the Soybean & Small Grain Expo on Tuesday, January 30th at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Registration begins at 8:00am and the Expo will conclude by 3:30pm.

The Expo provides up-to-date market projections and information on the newest production

techniques, as well as remarks from University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences leaders. This year, we are featuring:

Dr. Mohamed Mergoum - Wheat Breeding: New Challenges for an Old Crop

Dr. Adam Rabinowitz - World Outlook for Southern Ag Commodities

Brent Marable - Georgia’s Integrated Cultivar Release System

Dr. Zenglu Li - Development and Release of New Soybean Varieties

Dr. Reagan Noland - Strategies to Increase Georgia Soybean Production

Jeffrey Harvey - 2018 Ag Policy Update

Mark Freeman - Ultra Late Soybean Production

PLUS

Presentations related to soybean and wheat production, poster session featuring latest research out of UGA, and an update on research projects funded by the

Georgia Soybean Commodity Commission.

Should you have questions or comments, contact the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association at 706-542-3793.

REGISTRATION FORM

Registration is $10 per person if received by Friday, January 19; $20 after Jan 20 or at the door; make checks payable to GA/FL Soybean Assoc. REGISTRATION: ___ individual(s) at $____ each = $____ Attendees (please include email address):

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

Form of payment: Check ________ Cash ________ Credit Card #_______________________

Expiration Date _______ Security Code_________ Billing Zip Code _________________

Return to: GA / FL Soybean Association 2425 South Milledge Avenue

Athens, Georgia 30605

2018 Georgia/Florida

Soybean & Small Grain Expo

GA PESTICIDE CREDIT 4 hours in Cat 21: Plant Ag

4 hours in Cat 25: Seed Treatment 2 hours in Cat 10: Private Applicator

DIRECTIONS Traveling North on I-75 Exit 135

To Enter East Gate: Turn right at end

of exit ramp

Proceed straight through traffic light

Proceed past North Gate entrance

East Gate entrance on right

Follow drive to Security Office

Traveling South on I-75 Exit 135

To Enter East Gate: Turn left at end of

exit ramp

Proceed straight through traffic light

Proceed past North Gate entrance

East Gate entrance on right

Follow drive to Security Office

Come visit with our sponsors and exhibitors who will be showcasing the latest in new varieties, technology and integrated pest

management products.

Page 3 FARMERS PUTTING SOYBEAN CHECKOFF DOLLARS TO WORK

UGA Soybean Short Course - March 5, 2018

Location: Nesmith-Lane Conference Center; Georgia Southern Campus (847 Plant Drive, Statesboro) Registration will begin at 9am and lunch will be provided. Speakers include: Reagan Noland, Grains Agronomist – Soybean Agronomics Eric Prostko, Weed Scientist – Soybean Weed Control Mark Freeman, East GA Agronomist – Ultra-Late Soybean Production in Georgia Phillip Roberts, Weed Scientist – Soybean Insect Control Bob Kemerait, Plant Pathologist – Soybean Disease Management George Vellidis, Ag Engineer – Soybean Irrigation Scheduling Smart Phone App Glen Harris, Soil Fertility Specialist – Soybean Fertility Billy Skaggs, – GA Soybean Commodity Commission Project Update (speakers & topics subject to change) For more information, contact Mark Freeman, East Georgia Extension Agronomist, at markfree@uga.edu or 912-681-5639.

You have the right seed, but is your soil ready for it? After harvest is an ideal time to have your soil tested to prepare your ground for high yields next year - and hopefully avoid nutrient deficiencies. For more information on soil testing, contact your local county Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or online at www.extension.uga.edu.

Healthy Soil, Healthy Yield

(Graphic courtesy of United Soybean Board)

2425 South Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia

Phone: 706-542-2351 Fax: 706-542-9397

E-mail: gasoybean@gmail.com

GEORGIA SOYBEAN COMMODITY COMMISSION

Commission Members

Greg Mims, Chairman Donalsonville, GA

Mark Ariail Carnesville, GA

Joe Moore Resaca, GA

Brian Ogletree Milner, GA

Tony Smith Arlington, GA

Billy Skaggs Executive Secretary

The soy checkoff empowers U.S. soybean farmers with tools that will help them maximize their profitability. Whether it’s a database of high-protein-and-oil soy varieties, the results of soy-checkoff-funded research or interviews with experts, the checkoff spreads the word about cutting-edge tips and tricks you can put to use on your farm. For more information, check out USB farmers resources online at: www.unitedsoybean.org/farmer-resources/tools/ www.unitedsoybean.org/farmer-resources/beyond-the-bean/ To view past issues of the Georgia Soybean News, visit www.georgiacrop.com/resources/newsletters/.

Check out Focus on Soybean Educational Webcasts

http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org

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