Clemson University is offering its annual Corn and Soybean Field Day at two locations in 2025, with the first set for July 22 at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center (REC) near Florence, South Carolina.
The second field day is July 24 at the Edisto REC near Blackville, South Carolina.
The field days will feature scientists discussing agronomics, nutrient management, pest control, insect and nematode sampling and more.
Michael Plumblee, Clemson University Extension corn and soybean specialist who coordinated these events, said field days at these locations represent the state’s corn and soybean growing regions.
“Having two field days provides a relatively centralized location for each major row crop region within the state where producers can come and learn about research we are conducting,” Plumblee said. “This is a great opportunity to connect producers with commodity board-supported research projects, exchange ideas for future work, and foster questions as we progress through the 2025 season and begin making plans for 2026.”
Insect scouting workshops for cotton and soybeans will occur after lunch at both field days. For information about the Pee Dee REC insect scouting workshop, contact Jeremy Greene, greene4@clemson.edu, or Kyle Smith, gks@clemson.edu. For information about the Edisto REC insect scouting workshop, contact Jeremy Greene, greene4@clemson.edu, or Marion Barnes, jbrns@clemson.edu.
Continuing education units (CEUs) and pesticide credits have been applied for the field days. Additional pesticide credits and certified crop advisor credits will be offered for the scouting workshops.
Contact Michael Plumblee at mplumbl@clemson.edu for information about field days at both locations.
The South Carolina Corn and Soybean Boards sponsor these events.
What to expect:
Pee Dee REC 2025 Corn and Soybean Field Day details:
Date: July 22.
Location: 2200 Pocket Road, Florence, South Carolina 29506.
GPS location: 2200 Pocket Road, Darlington, SC 29532
Time: 8:30 a.m. to Noon
Cost: Free.
Lunch: Provided.
Insect scouting workshop for cotton and soybeans will occur from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Credits applied for:
- Pesticide credits – 2,
- Nutrient Management CEUs – 0.5,
- Integrated Pest Management CEUs – 1, and
- Crop Management CEUs – 1.
- Additional pesticide credits and certified crop advisor credits will be offered for the insect scouting workshop.
Field day topics include:
Starter nitrogen sources in corn production
Michael Plumblee, Clemson Extension corn and soybean specialist, will discuss a starter nitrogen source trial in corn funded by the South Carolina Corn Board. Plumblee will also present on managing agronomics for high-yield soybeans, a trial funded by the South Carolina Soybean Board.
Hybrid and variety demonstrations/trials
Plumblee will have demonstrations of county corn hybrids that were planted at each of the RECs. These demonstrations contain various commercially available hybrids from several different seed companies. If time allows, he plans to discuss some work that Clemson scientists are partnering with Ohio State and Mississippi State scientists related to evaluating harvest timing and quality impacts on soybean and defining the nitrogen credit on soybean.
Insect management in corn
Francis Reay-Jones, entomologist and Integrated Pest Management coordinator, and Igor Schardong will discuss practical methods of managing insects in corn.
Insect management in soybean
Jeremy Greene, entomologist and associate chair for the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, will talk about important soybean insects – how to recognize, scout for and control them.
Corn broiler litter management
Karamvir Kaur, doctoral student working with Extension Soil Fertility Specialist Bhupinder Farmaha, will share her findings about how corn yield responses vary across South Carolina farms to broiler litter applications.
Evaluating in-season boron applications in soybeans
Kyle Smith and Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension agronomic agents, will discuss a research project funded by the South Carolina Soybean Board that involves determining what growth stage is optimum for foliar feeding boron to soybean by evaluating boron applications at two different growth stages. The data from this project will provide South Carolina soybean farmers with non-biased recommendations.
Corn and soybean nematode sampling and symptoms
Field day participants will learn how to detect nematode activity in fields. They will also learn how to pull soil samples to check for nematodes and the commodity board’s investment in providing funds for producers to run samples free of charge.
Edisto REC 2025 Corn and Soybean Field Day details:
Date: July 24.
Location: Clemson Edisto REC, 64 Research Road, Blackville, South Carolina 29817.
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cost: Free.
Lunch: Provided.
Insect scouting workshop for cotton and soybeans will occur from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m..
- Edisto REC insect scouting workshop registration.
Credits applied for:
- Nutrient Management CEUs – 0.5,
- Integrated Pest Management CEUs – 1, and
- Crop Management CEUs – 1.
- Additional pesticide credits and certified crop advisor credits will be offered for the insect scouting workshop.
Field day topics include:
Starter nitrogen sources in corn production
Michael Plumblee, Clemson Extension corn and soybean specialist, will discuss a starter nitrogen source trial in corn funded by the South Carolina Corn Board. He also will also discuss managing agronomics for high-yield soybeans, a trial funded by the South Carolina Soybean Board.
Hybrid and variety demonstrations/trials
Plumblee will also have demonstrations of county corn hybrids that were planted at each of the RECs. These demonstrations contain various commercially available hybrids from several different seed companies. If time allows, he plans to discuss some work that Clemson scientists are partnering with Ohio State and Mississippi State scientists related to evaluating harvest timing and quality impacts on soybean and defining the nitrogen credit on soybean.
Insect management in corn
Francis Reay-Jones, entomologist and Integrated Pest Management coordinator, and Igor Schardong will discuss practical methods of managing insects in corn.
Insect management in soybean
Jeremy Greene, entomologist and associate chair for the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, will talk about important soybean insects – how to recognize, scout for and control them.
Adam Whitfield, doctoral student, will cover insect management in soybeans. He will briefly cover his research on simulating insect injury in soybeans. Whitfield will also talk about how his data will refine economic treatment thresholds for major groups of insects affecting the crop.
Corn broiler litter management
Karamvir Kaur, doctoral student working with Extension Soil Fertility Specialist Bhupinder Farmaha, will discuss how soil tests such as the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test (ISNT) can help better predict corn yield responses to broiler litter applications.
Evaluating in-season boron applications in soybeans
Kyle Smith and Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension agronomic agents, will discuss a research project funded by the South Carolina Soybean Board that involves determining what growth stage is optimum for foliar feeding boron to soybean by evaluating boron applications at two different growth stages. The data from this project will provide South Carolina soybean farmers with non-biased recommendations.
Corn and soybean nematode sampling and symptoms
John Mueller, nematologist/plant pathologist, will discuss how to detect nematode activity in fields. He will also discuss how to pull soil samples to check for nematodes and the commodity board’s investment in providing funds for producers to run samples free of charge.
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