OGLESBY - This year, the 10-acre University of Illinois Extension and IVCC ag research and demonstration plot was planted with soybeans. Among the planned research and demonstration projects are planting population rates and treated vs. untreated soybean seed. Another component includes tillage, specifically evaluating no-till against a one pass vertical-till operation.

Daryle Wragge, Extension Agriculture Program Coordinator, said seed for this year’s program was graciously donated by Lukach Pioneer. The research and demonstration plot is a partnership project between the University of Illinois Extension, the Illinois Valley Community College Agricultural Department (Willard Mott and Kathryn Seebruck), and Luke Holly, IVCC farming tenant.

Again in 2020, weather factored in the delayed fieldwork and planting. Case IH provided a new variable tillage tool and an experimental 12-row, 30-inch planter to assist in the research project. The Agricultural Equipment Company is also doing extensive research within the plot in the way of mechanical design of seed placement.

All of the research will be monitored throughout the growing season by University of Illinois Extension and Case IH Engineering. Russ Higgins, U of I Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator, and Daryle Wragge, Extension Agriculture Program Coordinator, hope to have some very valuable information as well as guidelines to assist area producers. A field day is planned for late summer to highlight the findings.

Extension offices are located in Princeton, Ottawa, Henry, and Oglesby on the IVCC campus. For more information call (815) 224-0889. Visit our website at https://extension.illinois.edu/blmp.