There were a record number of unseeded acres last year. This means not all soybean seed intended for the 2019 growing season was used. Can carry-over seed (grown in 2018) be used successfully in 2020? Before answering that question, it must be stated that soybeans are one of the least storable seeds when compared to many other crops. This is largely because…
There are two distinct growth stages in many crops; the vegetative and reproductive stages. In soybeans the vegetative stage usually lasts between 30 to 50 days after emergence. Once a flower appears on the plant the reproductive phase has begun. What makes soybean unique is that vegetative growth (leaf number, node number, and dry weight) continues as flowers are formed….
At harvest individual soybean plants that remain green may become evident. The whole plant or just the stem stays green and there are often fewer pods present on these plants. In severe cases the pods may also be small or rounded and have little or no seed. These pods are called parthenocarpic (seedless). There are a number of causes for…
Horst Bohner May 23, 2019 2059 Comments Off on Is It Time to Switch to Earlier Maturing Soybean Varieties?The spring of 2019 has been unprecedented with excess rainfall and cool temperatures. This has significantly delayed soybean planting. When does it become necessary to switch to earlier maturing soybean varieties? There has been a trend in modern soybean production to plant early and to use long season varieties to achieve higher yields. This strategy has proven effective when soil…
Early planting has been adopted as a management strategy to achieve maximum yield in modern soybean production. There is considerable evidence that soybeans planted in late April and early May yield more than beans seeding during the second half of May. Ontario trials have shown that in some years early planting can provide a 10 bu/ac yield advantage. In the…
Horst Bohner November 23, 2018 8937 Comments Off on Is there a Safe Rate of In-Furrow Fertilizer for Soybeans?Some crops respond well to seed placed fertilizer. Applying phosphorus to wheat in-furrow has become standard practice for many growers. The amount of fertilizer that can be applied safely depends on the crop species, the type of fertilizer, the rate, soil type and soil moisture. Complete crop failures are possible if the seed or seedling is “burned” with excess fertilizer….
Soybeans are incredibly adaptive and can yield well when planted late. Although early May planting is ideal weather in August and September often has more influence on final yield than early planting. When planting is delayed, fewer days are required to reach maturity because of the plants ability to adjust to the season. A one month delay in planting results…
Horst Bohner March 28, 2017 6840 Comments Off on Phosphorus and Potassium Management for Corn, Soybeans, and WheatCrop yields have increased significantly since fertility recommendations were developed in Ontario. Crop nutrient uptake and grain nutrient removal have increased proportionately. A study was initiated in 2011 with funding from the Grain Farmers of Ontario to evaluate a corn-soybean-wheat rotation on four sites with relatively low soil test P and K levels. Areas within each test site were built…
Much of the province received welcome showers over the weekend. A few areas were hit with heavy rains that caused flooding in low lying areas. In most cases water drained away quickly but standing water could still be found in some fields two days after the rain. See picture #1. Flooded soybeans on June 1st, 2015 at Ridgetown, ON. How…
Horst Bohner February 20, 2015 4511 Comments Off on Evaluating Soybean Fungicide Timing and TankmixesOver the last 10 years there has been increased interest in applying foliar fungicides to soybeans in Ontario. Liquid in-furrow fungicide application is also now being used in more US states on soybeans. Many trials have been conducted in Ontario to assess the yield and seed quality benefits of foliar fungicides. Very little work has been conducted to evaluate in-furrow…
Various areas in the province received frost in September and there continues to be concern the impact subsequent frost will have on the soybean crop. The extent of injury will depend on the stage of development as well as the length of exposure to frost. MECHANISM Low temperatures injure plants primarily by inducing ice formation between or within cells. The…
Compiled by Chris Brown, edited by Horst Bohner 2012 Soybeans were originally introduced to Ontario as a forage crop for cattle. Today, the vast majority go for crush and the IP market. Letting the crop mature and harvesting the seed is far more profitable than using it as a forage crop but in some cases forage soybeans may be an…
Soybean growth has been slow in those areas that missed the rains. Fields are now at the R2 (full flower) growth stage. Those areas that received adequate moisture are progressing well and are entering R3 (beginning pod). Soybeans flower over an extended period of time so areas that have been negatively impacted from the lack of moisture can still “catch…
Early-season leaf feeding before the 3rd trifoliate can look serious because plants are small. However, soybeans can compensate for large amounts of leaf loss with little impact on yield. Soybeans will put on new leaves quickly at the top of the plant and unaffected leaves actually grow larger to compensate. Before the plants begin to flower, up to 100% of…
Soybean planting finished this week. Stands are generally exceptional if seed was placed into moisture. In some cases no-till drills were not able to penetrate properly especially on top of corn rows. If the seed remains dry it can remain in the soil for up to six weeks and still emerge once moisture arrives. However, if the seed starts to…