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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2026


Success StoryReduction in Soybean Seeding Rates



Reduction in Soybean Seeding Rates

Author: Carrie Knott

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Grain Crops

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Soybean seeding rates had increased to levels that greatlyexceeded the University of Kentucky recommendations in recent years. For thepast three to four years, one item that I have included in all soybean relatedtalks and blog/newsletter articles within Kentucky has been reducing seedingrates. I focused my attention on the fact that substantial cost savings couldbe achieved with reduced seeding rates, without a reduction in yield. Basedupon surveys and Kentucky Soybean Yield Contest Entries, the seeding rates havebeen reduced dramatically throughout Kentucky, even in Yield Contest entries.Assuming that 60% of Kentucky soybean acres have reduced their seeding rates toour recommended levels it would account for a cost savings for producers of almost$10 million dollars each year.