The CPI, http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ , "produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services." The number, and breakdown is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New UW guide helps soybean producers manage biggest yield-limiting challenges
It all starts with variety selection. Conley says soybean growers typically plant half the number of soybean varieties as they do corn varieties on the same acreage sizes. “We’re limiting ourselves on genetics,” he notes, characterizing variety selection as one of the “simplest easiest things to do” to boost yield.
Variety selection can be “the most important factor” in maximizing soybean yields, according to this UW team. A common mistake is looking only at local data (your farm, neighbors’ or county data). Local data, “while interesting,” they say, only provides “a glimpse at how well that soybean variety performed last year in a narrow area.” Comparing varieties over many different environments and locations offers the “best predictive ability for next year’s environment.”
“Who knows what the environment will be next year,” says Conley.
As alluded, planting multiple varieties to diversify genetics is a good strategy for lowering risk of yield loss due to season stressors. Don’t put all your eggs in the later-maturity-group basket, even though those beans lead to increased yield; timeliness of harvest and frost must be considered.
