An on-combine NIRS instrument was used to measure the crude protein and oil composition of soybeans harvested in Minnesota trial plots in the 2023 Farmers’ Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) program. The report offers an interactive look at how the NIRS instrument was installed and used in FIRST plots. Results comparing the on-combine sensor to benchtop laboratory sensor measurements are presented, with promising results for protein content monitoring.
29-Apr-2024 Urbana, IL FIRST was pleased to partner with the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council on a pilot project to use on-combine sensors to measure soybean quality values during harvest. Manager Mark Querna received a grant from MNSRPC to install the PerkinElmer near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensor on his plot combine. In addition to collecting grain weight, moisture, and lodging information during harvest, Querna collected the NIRS monitor information as well for every soybean plot in his 2023 regions. Soybean grain samples were collect for each variety, and sent to the University of Minnesota for laboratory analysis, using a similar PerkinElmer instrument sitting on a lab bench rather than in the weigh bucket of the combine.
Results of the comparison of on-combine to laboratory measurements are presented on FIRST’s website (see report). The results showed that the protein content correlated moderately well to laboratory measurements, and changes in the quality from plot to plot and location to location were detected.
Timely monitoring of quality outcomes could change the way soybean growers can market their grain in significant ways. Similar to a yield-monitor, managing the crop for quality could be a driver of new profitability, including identity-preserved premiums, quality premium, and storage decision-making. FIRST is grateful for support and collaboration from the MNSRPC and University of Minnesota. The United Soybean Board funded grain sampling and lab analysis. Finally, FIRST thanks the cooperating farmers who host corn and soybean plots in Minnesota and around the Midwest.
Authors
Mark Querna, FIRST Manager Photo Link Email
Jessica Bhalerao, FIRST Program Manager Photo Link Email
Image Assets
Image Link: FIRST completes soybean harvest with hosts on the Schrader farm
Caption: FIRST Soybean harvested completed at the Schrader Farm, Nerstrand, MN October 23, 2023. (l-r) John Querna, Mark Querna, Keith Schrader, Brian Schrader.
Graph LInk: Interactive Plot of FIRST's NIRS Study Protein Content
Caption: Scatter plot of laboratory NIRS (y-axis) and on-combine field NIRS (x-axis) estimates of protein content (top) and oil content (bottom), dry-basis values for all estimates.
