Soybeans are typically one of Tennessee's leading crops. In 2011, the state's farmers planted more than 1 million acres in soybeans. These beans have hundreds of uses. Not only do they fuel our bodies, but they can fuel our vehicles, with additional uses as diverse as building materials, candles and crayons. Soybeans are an excellent source of protein and soy foods are considered heart healthy.

Researchers at the West Tennessee Research & Education Center are developing new soybean lines that will be more profitable for the state's producers. They are also identifying optimum management strategies for soybean production.

Current UT Research Projects at WTREC are...

  • Testing the efficacy of seed treatments
  • Examining the effects of supplemental calcium
  • Developing Soybean Cyst Nematode-resistant soybean lines
  • Improving profitability of soybean production by finding better methods of insect control
  • Identifying herbicide programs that are most effective for managing resistant pigweed in soybeans
  • Maximizing yield benefits of potash fertilization
  • Identifying sources of resistance among soybean germplasm, breeding lines and commercial cultivars
  • Determining optimum maturity group and most profitable seeding rate for double crop soybean production
  • Evaluating the efficacy of various foliar fungicides and seed treatments