Soybeans

 

Nebraska soybean producers grow over 4.8 million acres of soybeans each year. This years estimate shows Nebraska producers will grow over 5 million acres in 2012. In 2011, the average state yield was 53.5 bushels per acre, up from 52.5 bushels per acre in 2010. Approximately, 50% of the states’ soybean acres are irrigated. Seventy-seven counties in the state have soybean production; however the majority of the acres are distributed in the eastern third of the state. The price for a bushel of soybeans recently has ranged from $16 to $17. Each year there are significant disease problems affecting this crop. The most common disease problems include: Phytophthora root and stem rot, seedling diseases, and soybean cyst nematode. Each year we also see some fields affected by some of the other diseases covered in the soybean disease section of this web site.