Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 11:30 AM
143-8

Improving Corn/Soybean Profitability Workshops.

J.A. Golus1, Robert Klein1, P.J. Jasa1, Richard Ferguson1, D.D. Tarkalson1, Charles Shapiro2, R.C. Seymour1, T.A. Jackson1, L.J. Giesler1, T.O. Dill1, P.C. Hay1, D.E. Stenberg1, and R.A. Wilke3. (1) Univ of Nebraska, 461 W University Dr, North Platte, NE 69101, (2) Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, 57905 866 Rd., Concord, NE 68728-2828, (3) Univ of Nebraska, NEREC, 601 E Benjamin Ave, Suite 104, Norfolk, NE 68701-0812

Total acres of the 195 participants that responded to workshop evaluations at the December 2005 Corn/Soybean Workshops, was 1,283,311. Participants estimated the value of the program at $11.53 per acre/per year. The average attendee who reported had 6,581 acres or a benefit per attendee of $75,879 per year. The value per acre ranged from a high of $15.50 at Albion to a low at Imperial of $5.80. The other three workshop locations were Lexington at $15.14, Hastings at $12.03 and Beatrice at $7.50. Based on participant estimates the total estimated benefit of the workshops was more than $14.79 million/year. Participants cited the best production ides they learned or increased knowledge about at the December 2005 Workshops. Comments included: A)Corn water use; B)Fertilizer recommendations and skip-row corn; C)Skip-row corn data; D)Lower N rates; E)Hybrid selection; F)N rate and N cost ratio; G)No-till; H)Hybrid selection for genetic diversity; I)Sell my disc; J)Processing stalks by one’s combine; K)No soybean yield response to P level above 12; L)Optimum soybean final stand population; M)Value of residue for weed control; N)Weed control in fall to control moisture lost; O)Change hybrids and varieties faster. The workshops included a 10 question pre and post test. The first question asked them to "select the two hybrids from a list that will give the best chance of optimizing genetic diversity and economic return." On the pretest 31 percent vs. 83 percent on the post-test got the correct answer. Sessions included Cropping Systems Decisions, What Does Tillage Cost?, Reducing Crop Water Use, Controlling Your Fertilizer Costs, Managing Your Seed Costs, Problem Corn and Soybean Insects and Diseases in 2006.