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Our Soybeans: Greater Returns, Less Impact

Illinois soybean growers have improved production efficiency by implementing sustainable best management practices. One of the most important is planting improved soybean varieties -- a practice that offers a variety of benefits:

• 	Soybeans are planted close together, preserving soil moisture and maximizing yield per acre.

  No-till and reduced-till methods made possible by biotechnology let farmers leave crop residue in the fields. The residue greatly reduces soil erosion and the need for energy-intensive plowing.
• Narrow-row planting -- facilitated by improved soybean varieties -- lets soybeans grow closer together so the plant canopy reduces weed pressure and retains more soil moisture.
• Soybeans designed to need less fertilizer and withstand herbicide applications protect water quality by reducing farm pesticide, fertilizer and soil runoff into groundwater and waterways.
• Farmers spend less time in the field managing soybeans, reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 88 percent compared to conventional cropping systems.

These sustainable gains have ripple effects that reach international agricultural production. When you purchase Illinois soybeans, be confident that they significantly increase productivity in livestock and aquaculture operations worldwide while maintaining a high level of environmental sustainability.