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Examining above-trend soybean yields in Illinois

A farm management specialist with the University of Illinois is examining the cause and long-term viability of above-trend soybean yields across the state.

Gary Schnitkey says 70 to 80 bushel yields are being reported this year, and USDA is projecting a record yield average of 62 for Illinois.

He tells Brownfield a combination of technology and good weather are probably responsible for the bump.

“We’ve had some new technologies (like) fungicides and new insertions of RoundUp Ready at different points, and those all probably lead to higher soybean yields.  But it was also a very good soybean yielding growing year.”

Illinois soybean yields are 10 bushels above trend this year and were five bushels above in both 2014 and 2015.

Schnitkey says it’s too early to tell if a permanent jump has occurred.

“We thought we saw (a jump) on corn from 1995 to roughly 2005, but then we had some poorer yields and that causes us to think we’re on this continuing trend for soybeans of about a half bushel increase every year.”

Schnitkey suggests the recent rise in yields coupled with futures prices favoring soybeans over corn, may persuade Illinois farmers to plant more acres to soybeans in 2017.