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April 5, 2011 - Issue 8
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10 Steps to Growing High Yield Soybeans •
Economics News •
Contact Information
10 Steps to Growing High Yield Soybeans
Jeremy Ross, Extension Agronomist - Soybean
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
jross@uaex.edu
(501) 944-0621
1. Soil Test! Lime and fertilize for soybean according to
test results. Apply an inoculant specific for soybean if
soybean has not been grown on this land in the last three years or
previous soybean crops have had poor nodulation.
2. Variety Selection. Plant recommended varieties for your
location and planting situation (see recommended variety list in
2010 Soybean Updates or
SOYVA).
Consider plant characteristics other than yield. Plant varieties of
different maturities to spread risks. Know soybean seed germination
and accelerated aging values.
3. Crop Rotation. Rotate land so that soybean and other
legumes are planted (on the same site) no more than twice every
three years. If field has nematodes, plant an appropriate nematode
resistant soybean variety. Avoid deep sands or eroded clay soils.
4. Tillage Practices. For soils with a restrictive plow
pan, use deep tillage (12-inch-14-inch) to get deep soybean rooting.
For conservation tillage, use strip tillage and/or traffic control
to reduce soil compaction.
5. Use good cultural practices!
a. Plant between April 10 and June 10.
b. Plant in rows 7 to 38 inches wide.
c. Consider using twin-row planters with wider beds.
d. Plant about 160,000 seed per acre (about 12 seed per foot
for 36-inch row spacing) for a final plant stand of 120,000 to
130,000 plants per acre.
e. Plant seed 1.0 to 1.25 inch deep in moist soil.
f. Plant when soil temperature 2-inch deep is between 65° and
90° F.
g. If irrigating, apply water i. Use Irrigation Scheduler.
ii. During vegetative growth if leaf wilt occurs by mid-day.
iii. During reproductive growth (R2-R5) to supplement rainfall
so that soybeans receive 2.25-3.0 inches of water weekly.
6. Control weeds!
a. In reduced tillage production systems, do everything
possible to obtain a weed-free seedbed at planting.
b. Consider using a soil applied herbicide such as Prowl or
Valor.
c. Apply post-emergence herbicides when weeds are 2-4 inches
tall.
d. Be on the lookout for glyphosate and ALS-resistant Palmer
amaranth (pigweed).
e. Consider LibertyLink soybean varieties and Ignite
herbicide where glyphosate-resistant weeds are a problem.
f. See the
2011 Recommended Chemicals for Weed and Brush Control - MP44
for more weed control information.
7. Control insects!
a. Apply insecticide seed treatments to control soil borne
insects and suppress some above ground insects.
b. Scout fields weekly from R3-R8, treat for stinkbugs, and
other pod/foliage feeding insects as needed. (See
2011 Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas - MP144)
8. Control foliar diseases!
a. Apply fungicide seed treatments to control seedling
diseases.
b. Scout fields weekly to monitor for leaf diseases.
c. Post-bloom (R1-R6), apply foliar fungicide if foliar
diseases are detected at economic thresholds in your local
fields. (See
2011 Arkansas Plant Disease Control Products Guide - MP154)
9. Make a timely harvest. Harvest soon after maturity to
reduce seed shatter and maintain good seed quality.
a. Adjust combine to match crop and field situation.
b. Begin harvest soon after soybean seed have dried to a
reasonable moisture to avoid loss by shattering.
10. Review the year.
a. Determine the cause of problem areas (poor fertility,
herbicide resistant weeds, nematodes, poor drainage, compaction
issues, etc.).
b. Begin planning for the next year. Determine solutions for
problem areas. Start land preparation to have a head start for
the next year.
Economicss News
Bob Stark, Agricultural Economist, SEREC & UAM School of
Agriculture, Monticello
stark@uamont.edu
(870) 460-1091
This market economics component looks at cash market & forward
pricing quotes from selected markets as reported to National
Agricultural Statistics Service in Arkansas.
The Arkansas cash soybean market declined 9 cents over the
weekend to a Monday opening price of $13.36 (Figure 1). Most of the
remaining week saw price climbing sharply to a high of $13.96 before
suffering a 16 cent decline on Friday. The trading week closed at
$13.80 on Friday, an overall 35 cent gain from the previous Friday
closing mark. High individual market daily average for the week
exceeded the $14.00 mark as both Old Town/Elaine and West Memphis
reached $14.15 on Thursday. Five additional markets surpassed the
$14.00 level on Thursday. The lowest individual market daily average
was on Monday with $13.18 reported at both Jonesboro and Wheatley.
Despite the sharp decline on Friday, all reporting markets remained
at or above the $13.63 level.
Forward booking prices for 2011 crop beans lost ground more
severely over the weekend than the cash market with a 9 cent
retreat. The statewide average on Monday was $13.22 (Figure 2).
Price climbed steadily each day, reaching its weekly high on
Thursday at $13.73. A mild 6 cent decline was seen on Friday, much
less severe than in the cash market. The decline left forward booked
beans at $13.67, an overall 36 cent gain over the prior Friday
closing mark. West Memphis had the highest individual market quote
of the week at $13.94 on Thursday. No other individual market
exceeded $13.86 during the entire week. The lowest price of the week
was $13.02 at Wynne on Monday with Augusta posting $13.03. The price
margin premium on cash market old crop beans over new crop booking
prices narrowed for the fourth straight week, but the change was
only one cent and left the price interval at 13 cents.
(Market average prices stated in this report are unweighted
averages of the state markets surveyed by NASS. Price data was based
on USDA LR GR111 Arkansas Daily Grain Reports.)
Contact Information
Please contact your local
County extension agent in Arkansas or
the author(s) if you have questions or comments regarding the
newsletter. You may also contact Jeremy Ross, Extension Agronomist
for Soybeans at
jross@uaex.edu or (501) 944-0621.
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