Search

Soybean harvest: When the time is right

September 15, 2023 1:37 PM
Blog Post

Every year soybean harvest has some type of challenge. Soybean is one crop where it is difficult to get all the conditions perfect. The use of draper style headers with soybean harvests allows harvest to begin earlier and handle green stems, green pods, and variable moisture.

Below are several items to consider this harvest season:

Category: 

First soybean aphids of 2022

June 17, 2022 11:09 AM
Blog Post

Today, while scouting for bean leaf beetle south of Ames, my lab found a few early vegetative plants with soybean aphid. Actually, it was Ashley Dean who found them. It was the ants moving on plants that caught her eye. Taking a closer look revealed a few small aphid colonies feeding on the undersides of the trifoliates. That is pretty typical from my experience – finding the first soybean aphids of the season is by seeing ants or lady beetles. It is not unusual to see soybean aphid in mid-June.

Another Tough Winter for Bean Leaf Beetle

April 19, 2022
Adult bean leaf beetle.

Bean leaf beetle adults (Photo 1) are susceptible to cold weather, and most will die if exposed to air temperatures below 14°F. However, they avoid harsh temperatures by burrowing under plant debris and loose soil. Each spring, adult beetles emerge from their overwintering habitat and migrate to available hosts, such as alfalfa, tick trefoil, and various clovers. As the season progresses, bean leaf beetles move to preferred hosts, like soybean. While initial adult activity can begin before soybean emergence, peak abundance often coincides with early-vegetative soybean.

Crop Scouting Resources from the Crop Protection Network

March 18, 2022 12:56 PM
Blog Post

As the snow melts and planters are made ready for spring, it is also time to think about crop scouting. The Crop Protection Network has many resources for new crop scouts or summer interns. These resources can also provide a refresher to help seasoned scouts before they walk back into a field. Check out the following videos and web tools to get started:

2-part webinar for soybean gall midge

January 26, 2022 6:54 PM
Blog Post

Since its discovery as a new species in 2019, soybean gall midge continues to be found in new counties across five states in the Midwest. For some farmers, the presence of soybean gall midge had a significant impact on soybean yield. The persistence of this new pest in existing areas and its presence in new counties highlight the need to stay up-to-date on the latest research-based information. 

Row Spacing for Soybean

Encyclopedia Article

Row spacing when planting soybean is a management decision that is a priority when looking to achieve high-yielding soybean. Over several years, research across Midwestern states has consistently shown that soybean planted in narrow rows—less than 30-inch—has a yield advantage when compared to rows greater than 30-inches.

The primary reason for this advantage is light utilization; canopy closure is approximately 15 days earlier in 15-inch rows compared to 30-inch rows. Canopy closure earlier in the growing season results in greater light interception and higher growth rates.

Category: 
Crop: 

Considerations when planting soybean back-to-back

December 13, 2021 11:45 AM
Blog Post

Planting soybean in the same field that just grew soybean is not recommended. Soybean yield will suffer even before factoring in environmental conditions, weather, and pest/disease pressures. 

Four different studies in Minnesota and Wisconsin have shown a yield decline of at least 5% and as much as 9% for second-year soybean compared to first year and a study in North Carolina shows a 5 bu/ac penalty for second-year soybeans.

Category: 

Mixed bag in beans

September 16, 2021 7:52 AM
Blog Post

I got invited to SERF (ISU Southeastern Research Farm) field day last week to highlight corn rootworm management. I was easily distracted when it wasn't my stop and started walking around soybean plots looking for insects. [this is a common occurrence with entomologists!] Soybean was in various stages of senescence around the farm as you could imagine with multiple maturity groups used for research projects. I was surprised by the variety of insects still present the first week of September.

Pages