Nebraska soybean growers will have four chances this August to pick up practical management tips, ask questions of Extension specialists and connect with fellow producers during the annual Soybean Management Field Days.
Hosted by the Nebraska Soybean Board and Nebraska Extension, the field days have been a summer tradition for more than 25 years. Rather than the longer, rotating sessions of the past, organizers now offer a more compact format designed to fit busy schedules while still delivering timely production information.
“I really think that the Soybean Management Field Days provide some of the best information that Nebraska Extension has for soybean management across the board,” said Talon Mues with Nebraska Extension.
Programs cover a range of topics including fertility, irrigation, insects, diseases and pest management. Mues said the two-hour evening sessions allow growers to hear the latest recommendations while interacting directly with Extension educators and fellow farmers.
“They offer a meal, it’s a great opportunity to come and learn from your peers, learn from Extension and just have a good time,” he said.
Three of the field days will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.:
- Aug. 11 — North Platte
- Aug. 12 — Central City
- Aug. 13 — Weeping Water
The series concludes with a longer program from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead. That event includes lunch and features the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Soybean Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) competition, where participants can compare different management strategies and technologies without taking on the financial risk themselves.
“It’s been really valuable not only for Nebraska Extension, but also for growers around the state,” Mues said. “You get to learn from your peers and experience different management strategies without having to take on that risk for your own operation.”
The field days are free thanks to support from the Nebraska Soybean Board. Organizers ask attendees to register at least two days in advance to help plan meals and refreshments.
For soybean growers looking for practical ideas they can take home to their own farms, the annual field days continue to offer one of Nebraska’s best opportunities to see research translated into real-world management decisions.