Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Agribusiness Economics
Advisor
Sanders, Dwight R.
Abstract
Soybean productivity is among many important topics currently in Illinois agriculture. With corn prices being so low the last few years, many people are relying on their soybean crop to produce very well. Also, with the increasing disapproval of genetically modified crops, it is important to recognize if these crops making a difference in production. It is obvious that weather plays a huge role in crop productivity. This research is intended to identify other specific variables that influence soybean yield in a given year. Much research has been done in the past identifying the weather variables that are most important in relation to bushels per acre harvested, but little research has truly delved into the technological advances of the last 50 years. Using multiple regression analysis, this paper pinpoints the specific sources behind soybean yield increase that include July precipitation, August precipitation, and August temperature. Conversely, the regression analysis surprisingly did not find any significance in double cropping, biotech acres planted or row width used.