By Ryan McGeeney
Compared to the tumultuous planting season of 2025, this year’s soybean planting efforts have been relatively smooth sailing. But farmers are bracing for July and August, the months that can make or break a crop with unpredictable weather changes.
“Some of the late fields probably need an herbicide application just to get them through the canopy closure,” Ross said. “But overall, the crop looks really good. I’ve talked to farmers, county agents and consultants who are pretty pleased.”
Ross said recurring rain events and generally wet conditions across much of the state have opened a window of opportunity for foliar diseases and fungi, although farmers have been able to stay on top of those threats so far.
“The next biggest thing is irrigation,” Ross said. While rain events have reduced the amount of irrigation necessary thus far, particularly in the northeastern portion of the state, some growers have begun to irrigate their earlier-planted soybean acres.
Ross said that Arkansas soybean farmers are in as good a position as they can be to enter the summer months, when excessive heat, rain or other damaging events can wreak havoc on a crop midway through its growth cycle.
“I don’t know what the rain forecast for July and August will be, and that’s really the time for setting yields,” Ross said. “We haven’t had much insect pressure yet, but it’s probably coming. So, it’s just a matter of scouting fields, and if we do have a problem, making sure we’re there in a timely manner with pesticides to control those issues.”
Source : uada.edu