This spring's weather conditions may be slowing down corn planting but soybean planting has not yet been impacted. As of May 5, soybean planting progress is estimated at 8% compared to 11% for the 5-year average (USDA-NASS, 2019). However, because of recent rains and corn planting delays there is concern that soybean planting will soon fall behind. In this article, we discuss the soybean yield potential and maturity selection considerations as planting progresses into late May and possibly June.
First, to put 2019 in context, we analyzed historical USDA-NASS planting date and yield data at the state level. This analysis showed that if 50% soybean planting occurred before May 31 there is a good chance to obtain high yield. In only 3 of the last 40 years, 50% planting completion occurred after May 31. Among these three years, two were extreme years, 2013 was wet early then dry later in the growing season whereas 1993 was wet throughout the growing season.
A question that many farmers have is if they need to switch maturities. There is no need to switch soybean maturity group if planting can occur before June 1 in northern Iowa (Figure 2). In southern Iowa well adapted soybean varieties can be planted into June. Soybean have the ability to adjust development caused by late planting because they are photoperiod sensitive. In recent trials conducted at seven research farms over five years, the same soybean variety planted 40 to 60 days apart reached physiological maturity within 7-10 days of each other. Moreover, a 0.5 to 1.0 maturity group spread resulted in a difference of only 3-5 days to reach maturity.
To compare more planting date and maturity combinations and determine risk of fall frost at more specific regions across Iowa, you can explore the Soybean Planting Decision Making Tool at http://agron.iastate.edu.
While it may be early at this point, if planting is delayed past June 15, the decision must be made either plant soybean using a shorter maturity group than well adapted for the area or consider Delayed and Prevented Planting crop insurance provisions. Planting soybean after May 20 will likely result in lost yield potential of 10% to 50% or more. For delayed and preventative planting the late coverage decreases each day from June 16 to July 10. In prevented planting situations, crop insurance language states the “cause of loss must be insurable and common to the area.”
Bottom line, if planting is delayed past June 15; make a realistic determination of remaining soybean yield potential and feasibility of delayed and preventative planting options. Talk with crop advisors, extension field agronomists and insurance providers to gather information to make the best decision given the situation.
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Mark Licht Associate Professor
Dr. Mark Licht is an associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. His extension, research and teaching program is focused on how to holistically manage Iowa cropping systems to achieve productivity, profitability and en...
Sotirios Archontoulis Professor of Integrated Cropping Systems
Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis is an assistant professor of integrated cropping systems at the Department of Agronomy. His main research interests involve understanding complex Genotype by Management by Environment interactions and modeling various components of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Dr...