soybean

Planting is progressing quickly in drier conditions. Acres planted to corn in the last couple of weeks have increased from 1% a few weeks ago to more than 60 - 70% in some areas. Northern Indiana has more than a week of field activity, followed by central Indiana. Larger planter units with bulk system seed units and 24 rows or more are covering the acreage at a record pace. Growers in parts of southern Indiana started a day or two ago and are rained out again. Most rain in recent weeks has occurred along the I70 and south.

For the soybean producer there several new traits coming to the market in the next few years and 2014 will mark the end of the patent protection for one of the original traits to be sold in the market place. The patent for Roundup Ready^® (RR1) trait for soybeans will end in 2014. This has created much confusion over the question of whether or not a grower can save seed from RR1 soybean products for replanting.

Effects from the 2012 drought may carry important implications for 2013 management decisions.  The extreme heat and dryness of the 2012 season may have stressed populations of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in the soil according to university experts Jim Beuerlein and Harold Watters CPAg/CCA, Ohio State University.  B. japonicum are bacteria living in the soil that form a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship with soybean roots.

A dry and hot summer in 2012 revealed the pervasiveness of herbicide resistant weeds in our row crop systems. Weeds were more visible, especially in soybeans, as stressed crops were reduced in height. I noticed marestail, water hemp and lambsquarters in fields treated multiple times with glyphosate. These are not missed applications or weed escapes but herbicide resistant weeds. Marestail, or horse weed, was most often observed, as it is adapted to grow and develop in heat and drought stress, better than the crop.

Treating soybean seed with Acceleron® and Poncho®/VOTiVO® provides an excellent start for obtaining the best possible yields from your soybean crop. From seed germination to stand establishment, seedlings and roots are protected from various soil fungi, insect pests, and nematodes. The protection offered by this seed treatment combination results in healthier seedlings and a more uniform crop establishment, which can have a positive effect on yields.

Soybean yields are a bright spot in this year of heat and drought. Late summer rains made beans. Indiana average yield is estimated to be 44.0 bushels per acre, down from 45.5 bushels last year. Best yields are from north, central and eastern regions of the state. Lowest bean yields were in the western regions, from central to south. Kentucky soybean yield was 38 bushels per acre, mostly from double crop acres. Double crop yields were outstanding for fields with good stands. Stand establishment was a challenge for double crop acres from the Ohio River north into southern Indiana.

Acceleron® Seed Treatment for soybean planting in 2013 is enhanced with a new active ingredient for broader disease protection.

What is it? Fluxapyroxad

Corn harvest is almost complete in mid-south, well on the way in southern Indiana-Kentucky and beginning in the north. Yields are as expected. Irrigated fields in SW Missouri and Arkansas are producing 180-220 bushels per acre. Farms in southern Indiana and Kentucky are in the 30-80 bushel per acre range. There is an occasional 120-150 bushel yield where a timely rain occurred in July. Yields will vary from 0-30 on high ground and perhaps 100 or more in lower fertile ground. North and east central Indiana was also affected by extreme drought this summer.

Marketing decisions, storage requirements, and the determination of possible crop losses can be based on accurate yield estimates of a producer’s soybean crop as the harvest season approaches.  Especially in a year such as this, with the weather stress that we have endured and are experiencing even now.  Estimating the yield of soybean fields is a much more tedious and laborious task than estimating corn yields.

Significant rainfall has occurred in the last two weeks but not enough to relieve drought conditions throughout the region.  It is the first time rainfall has been over an inch in one event since early winter.  Some storms have been severe with heavy rain in localized spots.  Southwestern and east central Indiana missed these rains and remains in extreme drought.  Many fields of corn are near or in the dent stage with little chance for yield improvement.