Weekly Ag Update

By ned birkey

msu EXTENSION EDUCATOR EMERITUS

SPARTAN AG 

 The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center’s 8-to-14-day outlook through Feb. 10 is calling for an outlook “leaning below” normal temperature but “leaning below” normal precipitation. The 30-day outlook for February, issued Jan. 15, is calling for equal chances for normal temperatures but leaning above normal chances for precipitation. Feb. 3 marked the halfway point between the (first days of) winter solstice and the spring equinox.

The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) payment numbers were released on New Year’s Eve. The main three for most of the Upper Midwest include corn at $44.36/acre, soybean at $30.88/acre, and wheat at $39.35/acre. These will be for the 2025 crop year planted acres. A pre-filled form with acres that were certified with the FSA office will be mailed/emailed to farmers in early February to review and sign. Full payments are expected on or around Feb. 28, 2026.

Science for Success is a national and state funded soybean checkoff project allowing soybean extension specialists to collaborate on key research and outreach questions. Soybean extension specialists across the U.S. conducted more than 100 trials with biological seed treatments across 21 states in 2022 and 2023 and focused on biological seed treatments. Results cover 101 site-years covered plots from North Dakota to Florida and Nebraska to South Carolina.

Results so far showed no active ingredients consistently provided statistically significant results when comparing the national average to the untreated control. However, the team observed some local, conditional responses. Further in-depth analysis of additional data beyond soybean yield may help identify places where biological seed treatments fit and offer an advantage.

From major companies to start-ups, countless ag input businesses are betting on biologicals. Their research and development investments have rapidly expanded the availability of products with biological active ingredients, like bacteria, fungi, plant extracts or algae extracts. Often, they are applied as seed treatments, which has proven to be an effective way to deliver many of these new options. Biological active ingredients are very different than chemicals,” says Laura Lindsey, professor of soybeans and small grains at Ohio State University and lead of this multi-state study, along with doctoral student Fabiano Colet, who developed the trial protocol and coordinated logistics and gathered results. “They are living organisms that need a host, in this case a soybean plant, and a conducive environment to thrive and provide the expected benefit.”

For these trials, the Science for Success team focused on biologicals that claim to support plant health and growth. These biologicals, often classified as inoculants or biostimulants, target improved nitrogen fixation, increased nutrient uptake or use efficiency, stimulated root growth and similar functions. Lindsey notes that differences between Science for Success in-field research and company information could relate to the rapid development of the market and its products.

In the meantime, Lindsey offers the following initial recommendations to farmers considering biological seed treatments for soybeans. Consider making in-field comparisons before going all-in on a product. Follow product label directions, remembering that the active ingredients need to be alive when applied. Keep in mind that any yield increases are often small.