MSU Extension Soybeans

2023 marks the 13th season of the Michigan Soybean On-Farm Research program, made possible by the checkoff investments of Michigan soybean producers. This year, 38 farmers around the state conducted on-farm research trials within 12 projects. Contained in this publication you’ll find the results from 52 individual trial locations. The research projects were developed with producer input and represent some of the most challenging production issues growers are facing.

Most of the projects were conducted at multiple locations and, in some cases, across several years, improving the reliability of the results presented in this research report. Agronomic and economic data is presented for each treatment. Breakeven yields utilized the projected USDA 2023-2024 average soybean price of $12.90 per bushel, the manufacturers’ suggested retail prices for all product(s) and application costs associated with the treatments.

Conducting these trials would not be possible without the strong partnership between the Michigan Soybean Committee (MSC) and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). One example is the unique collaboration between MSUE and MSC to jointly fund Mike Staton, MSUE statewide soybean educator and on-farm research program coordinator. MSC has also provided funding for four MSU Extension educators (Eric Anderson, Phil Kaatz, Monica Jean and Jenna Falor) who were instrumental in lining up trials and working with on-farm cooperators. We also want to thank MSC’s summer intern Rachel Drobnak, as she collected and organized soil
samples and took stand counts for the trials.

Dr. Arnold Saxton, Professor Emeritus, University of Tennessee, provided the SAS statistical procedure used for analyzing the 2023 trial results and provided valuable input regarding experimental design and statistical analysis.