*Before diving into the main topic of the article, we cannot help but share the news about another world record in soybean yield.
Recently, information appeared online that a "young farmer from the USA has set a new world record for soybean yield, reaching 14.6 t/ha (206 bushels)." This is an impressive yield, especially considering our reality, where Ukrainian producers can only dream of a stable soybean harvest of 3.0 t/ha.
The question: "How was it possible to achieve a soybean yield of 14.6 t/ha?" – the answer is simple. As Alex Harrell states: "There are no secrets, just the application of innovative technological approaches, careful planning, timely execution of technological operations, and irrigation."
To achieve the record soybean yield of approximately 14.6 t/ha, Alex Harrell implemented several key technological solutions:
1. Variety and seeding rate:
GMO soybean variety Pioneer P49Z02E, well adapted to local conditions;
Sowing date: March 21;
Seeding rate: 110,000 seeds/ha.
2. Soil cultivation and fertilization:
- Applied using the strip-till technology, which combined deep and surface soil cultivation with simultaneous fertilizer application in bands and foliar feeding.
3. Balanced plant nutrition:
- Regular soybean fertilization based on weekly tissue analysis results. Y-drops and fertilizer injection through irrigation systems were used for this purpose.
4. Irrigation:
- Water supply through central irrigation.
5. Plant protection
- Use of Enlist herbicides.
6. Harvesting:
- August 13 with a moisture content of 12.5%.
For those who constantly look for answers in weather conditions, the team of AGRONIX specialists has analyzed this case in more detail and identified the "main climatic conditions" for Leesburg, Georgia, where the world record was set:
- Precipitation: The annual rainfall is approximately 1,300 mm, with a significant portion occurring during the soybean growing period, ensuring sufficient moisture.
- Humidity: The relative humidity is moderate, averaging around 70-80% during the growing season, which helps maintain optimal plant conditions.
- Sum of effective temperatures: Ranges between 2,800 – 3,200°C (effective temperatures above 10°C) during the growing season.
- Solar radiation: The region receives approximately 4,500 – 5,000 MJ/m² of solar radiation during the growing season, supporting active plant growth.
- Hours of sunlight: The region typically receives around 2,700 – 3,000 hours of sunlight per year, with high sun intensity, which promotes photosynthesis.
What about similar indicators in Ukraine? How significantly do Ukraine
The answer to this question is reflected in the following table.
As we can see, in terms of heat accumulation, the southern and central regions of Ukraine nearly reach the levels required for record soybean yields. In the northern and western regions, the heat availability is slightly lower, but there is a higher amount of precipitation.
If we recall Alex’s technology, despite the annual precipitation of approximately 1,300 mm, he still uses irrigation. This means that irrigation is essential for achieving the highest possible soybean yields.
Besides irrigation, if we go back to the beginning of our article, we will notice the use of innovative technological approaches, meticulous planning, and timely execution of technological operations, which are essential in Alex’s arsenal for achieving record-breaking yields.
Preliminary conclusion at this stage:
- The amount of heat in Ukraine is sufficient;
- The precipitation situation is also relatively normal (yes, rainfall does not always come "on time," but in annual equivalent, especially in the North-Western part of Ukraine, it is present);
- For those who lack sufficient rainfall for a record yield – irrigation is necessary.
Overall, if we call things by their proper names, a Ukrainian farmer will achieve the fastest and most profitable return on investment in innovative technologies, solutions for more thorough planning, and most importantly – tools for the timely execution of technological operations. These are available in Alex's arsenal in one form or another, and he actively utilizes them.
Conclusion of the Subsection:
Ukrainian Farmers' Potential: A Ukrainian farmer can achieve, if not world records, then at least a place among the top-ranking countries in soybean yield. However, the first step is investing in innovations, strategic planning, and risk minimization. Only after these fundamentals are in place should irrigation be considered—if the ambition for world records remains.
What is needed for this? At a minimum:
1) Do not lose yield potential during the growing season. 2) Minimize risks and losses of the harvest that is ready for collection.
The team of AGRONIX specialists has prepared solutions for agricultural producers to permanently address these issues and start moving toward record-breaking yields.
1. REDUCING YIELD POTENTIAL LOSSES DURING THE VEGETATION PERIOD
1.1. Weeds
When growing conventional soybeans, mistakes made during the application of crop protection products cannot be corrected during the growing season. For example, the window for herbicide application is very short—soybeans should have no more than two leaves. If applied too late, the situation cannot be fixed, and the soybeans will remain "dirty." In the case of GM soybeans, glyphosate can be applied at any time, consistently yielding more or less good results. GM soybeans are popular among private farmers who do not have their own sprayers or sufficient agronomic education. This makes GM soybeans in high demand as they are easier to grow, predictable, and stable.
We emphasize the importance of GM soybeans. Despite the fact that "glyphosate can be applied at any time and will always yield a more or less good result," this approach immediately reduces the soybean yield potential. During the competition for resources with overgrown weeds, the field owner is left deciding: "Should I apply glyphosate now to clean up the existing weeds and then spray again for the next wave? Or should I wait a bit longer and eliminate all weeds in a single application?" Such approaches ultimately lower the potential yield of soybeans.
The solution is simple—implement pesticide application on soybeans using agro-drones. This increases yield by 3–7%, generating an additional $30–80 per hectare due to the absence of technological tracks. You can break even on your investment after treating 400–500 hectares and reinvest the remaining funds into other innovative technologies or more urgent tools to enhance business efficiency. (More detailed calculations can be found in the article: "Potential Income from Eliminating Crop Tramlines. Payback Period for Investment in Agro-Drones and Additional Equipment.")
1.2. Pests
Growing any crop begins with planning its placement in the crop rotation. Although soybeans can be cultivated on the same field for several years without a significant yield decrease, it is best to return soybeans to a previous field no earlier than every 3–4 years. It is important to remember that the shorter the soybean rotation cycle, the more pesticides will be required for its cultivation.
To grow high-quality soybeans, special attention should be paid to its protection against pests. On soybeans, about 114 pest species have been identified, including 96.5% insects, 2.6% slugs, and 0.9% mites. By trophic characteristics — 86% polyphagous, 14% oligophagous, no highly specialized species.
If someone has already dealt with soybean webworms or mites, they know well that by the time the sprayer arrives, all that’s left is just "stalks." In the case of mites, it’s even more challenging, as getting them from under the leaf using traditional wheeled machinery requires extra effort.
What to Do About It?
- Go to the AGRONIX page and choose the right agro-spraying drone for your needs. After implementing insecticide applications with agro-drones, your farm will be able to eliminate pests on time, effortlessly, and with high efficiency.
1.3. Diseases
One of the most critical plant development phases is the seedling emergence stage, especially the cotyledon emergence above the soil surface. With the appearance of leaves, CO₂ assimilation (photosynthesis process) begins, allowing the plant to transition from a heterotrophic to an autotrophic way of life. At this stage, it is crucial to ensure uniform emergence and prevent seedling diseases, as they will only progress further if left unchecked.
The most effective way to protect soybean plants from diseases is to select an effective seed treatment, choose resistant or tolerant varieties, and take a comprehensive approach to pesticide protection. Additionally, using multi-component fungicides that combine active ingredients from different chemical groups will deliver the best results in the face of climate change and numerous pathogen mutations.
Overall, considering that large agricultural holdings have been actively using agro-drones for pesticide application for 4–5 years, they have likely already gained a good understanding of their benefits. The reason is simple: +3–7% to yield due to the elimination of technological losses caused by wheeled machinery. +5–10% to yield potential thanks to timely and effective crop protection. −5–10% losses at the end of the growing season and during harvest.
Exactly! Large agricultural holdings in Ukraine gain 15…25% additional yield by incorporating spraying drones into their operations. And for those who want to understand the economic aspect of using agro-drones—everything is explained in detail and in simple terms in the article "Why Is It Advisable to Purchase an Agro-Drone with a Land Bank of 1,000+ Hectares?".
2) MINIMIZATION OF HARVEST-READY CROP LOSSES
Soybean desiccation is a key element in soybean cultivation technology, especially during a wet autumn. Desiccation enables fast and high-quality harvesting, significantly reducing costs associated with bringing the grain to technological standards. This agricultural practice also helps lower drying expenses, ensures uniform seed quality, and prevents the presence of “green” seeds. High soybean moisture in fields where desiccation was not performed requires prolonged drying, leading to higher fuel and electricity costs.
With soybean desiccation, seed moisture is reduced to 14–16% on average within 6 days. In 2022, the cost of drying 1% of soybean moisture at an elevator ranged from 200 to 300 UAH. Without desiccation, drying soybeans at an elevator from 22% moisture to 12% requires removing approximately 10% moisture. The calculation is as follows: 10% × 250 UAH = 2,500 UAH per ton of soybeans for drying. At a yield of 3 t/ha, the drying cost per hectare is: 3 × 2,500 = 7,500 UAH/ha.
For 100 hectares, the drying cost amounts to 750,000 UAH or $18,750 (at an exchange rate of 40 UAH/USD). The price of 1 ton of soybeans in September 2023 was approximately $345.6 (13,822 UAH per ton). At a yield of 3 t/ha, the total revenue per hectare is $1,036.7 (at an exchange rate of 40 UAH/USD), from which $187.5/ha or 18% of expenses is allocated to drying grain with a bunker moisture content of 22%. This represents a significant opportunity for optimizing drying costs through desiccation using the DJI AGRAS drone. With soybean desiccation, seed moisture is reduced to 14–16% on average within 6 days.
Soybean desiccation is performed when at least 70% of the pods have turned brown (pods in the lower and middle layers), with a seed moisture content of no more than 40–45%. The main quality criteria for soybeans are protein and oil content. The protein content (calculated on a dry matter basis) should be at least 35%. The oil content should be above 12%. Other important quality indicators include moisture content and impurity levels.
In modern agricultural production, desiccants based on diquat, ammonium glufosinate, and glyphosate are used for soybean fields. The most commonly used products contain diquat as the active ingredient. Some diquat-based products are sensitive to direct sunlight, and their effectiveness decreases in sunny weather. Optimal application temperature: 10–25°C Harvest readiness: 4–7 days after application Under these conditions, yield and 1,000-seed weight remain unchanged, and there is no negative impact on protein content.
Overall, when it comes to soybean desiccation with agro-drones, we can prevent future drying costs needed to bring soybeans to optimal moisture levels. Additionally, desiccation helps reduce losses from 20% to 1% by preventing: Pod shattering and seed dropping onto the soil surface. Poor threshing due to unevenly ripened plants. Mixing dry soybeans with still-green “beans” during harvest.
As a result:
15–25% additional soybean yield due to pesticide protection;
10% additional yield by reducing losses;
Up to $187 savings by eliminating post-harvest grain drying costs.
And for all of the above, all that's needed is just one thing – take your phone and contact the AGRONIX representatives to find out the answer to the question: «What is necessary to achieve such results using DJI AGRAS agro-spraying drones in your circumstances?»
