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UNL: Soybean Planting Tips For Optimal Yield.

Soybean Planting Tips for Optimal Yield

By University of Nebraska Lincoln    

http://cropwatch.unl.edu/soybean-planting-tips-2015

When planting soybean, remember:

  • If soil temperatures are warm enough, plant your soybean fields as close to May 1 as possible to provide optimal yields. University of Nebraska–Lincoln research has shown that for every day you plant after May 1, you lose ½ bu/ac yield potential. Delaying soybean planting until May 15 could result in a 7.5 bu/ac yield decrease (15 days x 0.5 bu/ac = 7.5 bu/ac loss). (See Data Show Nebraskans Planting Soybeans Earlier Each Year and Soybean Planting Date: When and Why.)
  • Soybean seed should be treated with a fungicide because water-soaked soggy soil, when coupled with very low soil temperatures, will result in post-imbibition, germinating seedlings being exposed to pathogens that will attack them.

 

No-till planting soybean into corn residue
Figure 1. No-till planting soybean into corn residue in 15-inch rows. (File photo by Paul Jasa)

 

  • If you have experienced overwintering bean leaf beetles infesting early planted soybean fields, use seed treated with fungicide and insecticide to prevent bean leaf beetle feeding and potential infection with bean pod mottle virus (BPMV). These beetles feed on early planted soybean seedling cotyledons and unifoliate leaves to get enough food to lay their eggs in the soil beneath emerged soybean seedlings.  Those eggs will hatch and the beetle larva will feed on your soybean seedling root system. The article Predicted Mortality of Bean Leaf Beetle is Highly Variable provides bean leaf beetle overwintering information from Iowa State University for the 2014-2015 winter season.  More in-depth information on the life cycle and biology of bean leaf beetles can also be found in this information from Iowa State University: Bean Leaf Beetles.
     
  • Additionally, new research published in Crop Science this month shows higher soybean plant populations are obtained with the use of fungicide/insecticide seed treatments.
     
  • With increased cost of production, consider reducing seeding rates in clay loam/silty clay loam soils in 30-inch rows.  Nebraska On-Farm Research has shown seeding rates can be reduced to 120,000 seeds/ac in these conditions without significantly affecting yield. (See Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Soybean Seeding Rate Findings and browse all data by year and location at Soybean Population Studies.)
     
  • Soybean seed requires 50% more water than corn seed to initiate germination.  Do not put your soybean seed into a dry furrow — imbibition does not start until germination begins. Consider planting deeper to moisture in some cases.
     
  • Soybean planting depth research from UNL from 2011-2013 at four locations showed across all site-years, regardless of early or late planting dates or tillage type, a planting depth of 1.75 inches maximized soybean yields. (See Soybean Planting Depth: Consider Planting Deeper.)
     
  • Replanting payments will not be made on acreage planted prior to April 25 with crop insurance. However, numerous seed companies provide 100% replant coverage on soybean seed treated with a fungicide/insecticide product or through brand loyalty policies.

Jim Specht, Professor Emeritus, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Jenny Rees, Extension Educator
Patricio Grassini, Cropping Systems Agronomist
Nathan Mueller, Extension Educator


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Predicting Weather with the Farmer’s Almanac

Video: Predicting Weather with the Farmer’s Almanac


The Farmers’ Almanac and Old Farmer’s Almanac have been around for centuries. The two journals use secret formulas using climatology, solar science and meteorology to make long-range weather forecasts. For years those working agriculture have turned to the almanacs for answers for insight into upcoming weather conditions.

“Over the decades, centuries even, farmers have put their trust into the almanacs products with their forecasts being one of them,” Steve Hu, professor in the School of Natural Resources department of earth and atmospheric sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said during the Dec. 13 episode of Seed Speaks. “At least 50 years ago, (these) might have been the only forecasts available to people who wanted to use some information to make a plan or something.”

Modern weather forecasting with technology has only been developed over the past several decades, including the statistical approaches to the seasonal forecasting, Ray Schmitt, president and founder of Salient Predictions, added during the episode.

“With all of the satellite systems we have to monitor the weather, as well as buoys that are monitoring the state of the ocean, there is quite a bit of information now available with a long enough record for us to build comprehensive statistical models,” Schmitt explained.

However, building that trust in these “modern” weather forecasts isn’t easy, which is why many in the agricultural communities continue fall back on the almanacs for weather information even though there are more forecasts available made with more current knowledge of seasonal forecasting.

“Farming communities are still using the Farmers’ Almanac because they have the trust there. The federal government, NOAA the federal agency to issue official weather forecasts, they haven't done enough to build trust among farmers for their predictions,” Hu says. “You have to somehow encourage farmers to put more attention on NOAA’s seasonal predictions and less attention on (almanac) forecasts.”

The wealth of weather data and forecasts available now also give people options of what weather forecast they want to follow or the option to use multiple forecasts. Hu cautions though that this can lead to people favouring the forecast that aligns with their desired goal lor outcome.

“Farmers have to make lots of decisions about ‘Well, what am I going to plant next season? When should I harvest my crop?’ Lots of decisions have to be made and you'd like some help with making those decisions. So, people will look to any sort of guidance,” Schmitt added.

Using new forecast options or platforms for weather forecasts also requires that people learn how to use these new sources, Hu said.