Rain, Late Corn Planting Delay Soybean Planting

May 22, 2015

By William J. Wiebold

Rain over Memorial Day weekend likely means that Missouri farmers will shed planting equipment again for the third weekend in a row.

Delays in corn planting have pushed soybean planting progress well below the five-year average. Soybean planting generally does not begin until corn planting is complete.

But there is still plenty of time to plant soybean without worries of lower yields, says University of Missouri Extension soybean specialist Bill Wiebold.

Eighteen percent of the state’s corn crop remains to be planted, according to the May 18 USDA crop progress report.

Soybean planting is 16 percent complete in Missouri, woefully behind this time last year and the five-year average of 27 percent. Last year, 30 percent of the state’s 5 million acres of soybean was in the ground.

Row crop planting slowed last week as storms moved through the state. Rain averaged 2.43 inches statewide, with some parts getting up to 5 inches.

Wiebold’s studies show that earlier planting and higher yields go hand in hand most years. Soybean yields decrease 4 percent when not planted by mid-May. By the end of May, yields drop by 10 percent.

That is significant, but not as important as the long-term damage to soil that working wet fields can cause, Wiebold says. Soil conditions, rather than calendar date, dictate when to plant.

The resilient soybean fares better than corn when planted late. “It’s amazing at how good soybean really is at hanging in there,” Wiebold says.

Planting date of soybean affects yield less than environmental conditions in August, he says. Conditions during the first two weeks of August govern soybean pod and seed development, which are determinants of yield.

Conditions across the state vary greatly. Less soybean has been planted in the western part of the state where heavy rains have hit. Only 7 percent of the soybean crop is planted in northwestern Missouri and only 56 percent of the corn crop there is in the ground.

Southwestern Missouri trails at 6 percent of soybean planted, but 94 percent of the corn is planted. Eastern Missouri shows the most progress in soybean planting, with 24 percent planted in the northeast, 23 percent in east-central Missouri and 29 percent in the southeast.

Source: missouri.edu

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.