Kentucky Soybean Harvest Ahead Of Schedule, Higher Quality Despite Drought

Nov 14, 2019

By Dalton York

Kentucky’s soybean harvest is ahead of schedule and higher quality compared to last year.

Farmers in the commonwealth planted two million acres of soybeans planted in 2018, with 75% of those acres having been harvested by November of that year.

Many Kentucky farmers rotate their fields between corn, wheat and soybeans. Because of this, the 2019 soybean crop is slightly less, with around 1.7 million acres planted.

David Knopf is the director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistics Service in Kentucky. He said recent statistics continue to show positive trend in soybean production.

“Yields have been generally above average the last few years,” Knopf said. “We had pretty good conditions for harvesting the crop.”

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.