After the asian soybean rust scare hit in autumn of 2004, many of us in the sprayer industry began advocating the use of twin flat fan nozzles to better treat the disease. It turns out we were wrong. By creating two spray patterns out of one, twin flat fan nozzles reduce the force of each spray by half, meaning there is not much force with which to penetrate the soybean canopy.

While you can rely on a number of new technologies for controlling pests in your no-tilled soybeans, this might be the year to focus more attention on disease concerns.

A proposed international trade agreement could lead to a huge increase in ethanol imports, which in turn could prevent no-tillers from capitalizing on the growing use of corn-based ethanol for fuel, according to a group critical of the trade proposal.

Soybean growers are urged to monitor their fields and contact their local extension agent or a local university plant diagnostic center if the appearance of Asian soybean rust is suspected.