By Mohammad Shamim
I remember attending a Western Kentucky agents' breakfast meeting last year when one agent remarked to another, “You can drive all over the state and not find a single bad soybean field.” At the time, he was absolutely right. Soybean got off to an excellent start, and as a soybean agronomist, I was optimistic that we would see some impressive numbers in the Kentucky Soybean Yield Contest.
Unfortunately, the season took a dramatic turn. A prolonged drought developed just as soybean entered the reproductive stages and needed water the most. While many fields achieved excellent pod set, the drought limited seed development and seed fill. The result was a crop that looked promising from the road but ultimately delivered disappointing yields in many areas.
This year has been different from the start.
The relatively dry conditions in March allowed many growers to plant soybean and corn earlier than usual. However, what appeared to be a favorable planting season soon became a roller coaster ride for soybean producers.
First, dry soils delayed germination and emergence in some fields. Many seeds remained in the ground for days or even weeks before receiving enough moisture to initiate germination. This led to uneven emergence and concerns about stand establishment.
Second, weed control became more challenging than expected. Many growers applied postemergence herbicides under less-than-ideal growing conditions.
Source : uky.edu