Evaluating Return on Investment (ROI) of Soybean Disease Management Practices

Field research trials will be established at four locations across Kentucky (2 full-season soybean trials and 2 double-crop soybean trials) to evaluate combinations of different disease management practices. At each location, seed treatments evaluated will consist of a “standard base” fungicide + insecticide seed treatment, a “premium” treatment that will provide additional efficacy against sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematode, and an untreated check (naked seed). In addition at each location, foliar fungicide and insecticide products applied at the R3 growth stage (pod development) will be evaluated, which will consist of an “off-patent standard fungicide treatment”, a premium fungicide treatment that will contain a new SDHI fungicide for improved efficacy against certain foliar diseases, an insecticide only treatment, an insecticide plus fungicide treatment, and an untreated check. Trials will be arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications at each location. Plots will be planted with a research precision cone planter and harvested with a research plot combine equipped with a moisture meter and grain scale. Data collected from each plot will include plant emergence, disease severity, damage caused by insect pests, and yields. An economic analysis will be conducted to determine the net economic benefit of each treatment combination relative to the untreated check. Data will be analyzed using SAS statistical software and then summarized. It is our hope that we will be able to present some of the preliminary results to Kentucky farmers during the 2023/24 winter meeting season.