Agronomy Zone 5

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Harvest is only a few weeks away and most growers in the mid-south are fighting a losing battle against glyphosate-resistant pigweeds. Herbicide resistance has been an issue in the Deep South for many years but growers are starting to take notice now that the problem has crept into their own fields. Many growers I’ve spoken with have decided to plant Stine LibertyLink soybeans next spring to help fight the glyphosate-resistance.

I came across the article “Mid-South tour ominous eye-opener” in the Delta Farm Press. The writer makes a few key points about herbicide resistant weeds, and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it.

Much needed rain came early last week in most areas of the mid-south, giving growers some welcome moisture to finish soybean planting. Soybean growth stages range from just being planted to R6 (Full Seed). Early planted dryland beans benefited from the rain as more blooms should allow for more pod set. Many growers I visited with in eastern Arkansas are battling resistant pigweeds; many have post sprayed at least twice, adding different herbicides to their glyphosate in hopes of getting some control. It has not always worked. Many growers are already asking to plant LibertyLink soybeans in 2011 to help with this resistance problem.

Stine corn hybrids are looking very good with high expectations for this coming harvest. Most corn is at full dent and will reach black layer shortly. Expect harvest to begin by the third week of August. Noticed a benefit from new VT3Pro hybrids as compared to VT3 in helping control corn earworm, allowing for better tip fill. Hot dry weather could affect grain fill on some later planted fields, but I expect a very good corn crop overall.

East central Illinois crop conditions are widely varied, with most corn pollinated and grain fill just beginning to nearly done.  I am expecting wide variations in yield due to ponding and nitrogen deficiency. Highest yields will more than likely come from best drained fields and be directly related to root development. Many fields look to have poor root development due to excessive moisture in June. We will just have to see if this could cause harvest issues this fall. Proper hybrid selection for soil type will pay big dividends this fall!

What a difference a year makes!  2010 has gotten off to a very good start, with about 95 percent of the corn crop in the Mid–south and Delta regions planted by April 20th. Most, if not all, of the corn has emerged and is now in the 3-6 leaf stage. Stand counts and emergence scores I have taken show populations are optimum for high yield potential. Rice planting is also well ahead of last year. Many growers were waiting on cotton planting for soil temperatures to warm up, and for some rain to gain some soil moisture. Well, the rain came and so did some severe storms across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Fortunately, most standing crops were unaffected and cotton planting is well ahead of the average pace. Soybeans may be 10 to 20 percent planted, with plenty of time left to get the rest of the crop in.

Closer to home in Central Illinois, corn is 95 percent planted and about 75 percent of that has emerged. This is a good 5-6 weeks earlier than in 2009. Populations look great, and we have very high expectations right now on the corn crop. Bean planting has been minimal (5 to 10 percent) as most growers received rainfall in the last week.  Soybean planting will likely get in full swing as soon as we can get back in the field. We are still way ahead of the optimum soybean planting date.

Every year brings a new, unique set of challenges in agriculture.  So far the spring of 2010 has been a great start to new crop year, let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for good growing conditions and see just what these crops can do!

Rainfall is just one of the factors that can affect protein and oil content in soybeans. Other factors that will affect protein and oil content are the soybean varieties genetic potential, environmental conditions or stresses (both temperature and moisture) and general farming practices.

You may have noticed increased soybean yields this year due to increased moisture levels in your area. Temperatures may also have been cooler than normal, which would also decrease the effect of environmental stress.  Good growing conditions and the lack of environmental stresses increased soybean yields due to the increase in the number of seeds produced by the plant and an increase in seed size. Anything that decreases stress during the seed fill stage will increase yield from the number of seeds produced per plant and an increase in soybean seed size. You can expect an increase in both protein and oil content under these conditions.

A key point to remember is with any increase in yield, protein and oil content from favorable environmental conditions, any adverse environmental conditions can also decrease the same physiological factors affecting yield and therefore protein and oil content.

Each soybean variety has an estimated protein and oil content based on its genetics. Although environmental conditions that affect yield can also affect protein and oil content, most growers today are being paid on soybean bushels delivered to the elevator. There may be contracts available in some locations that pay a premium for protein or oil content. If those contracts are available you should look for varieties that would meet those requirements. Selection of the highest yielding varieties will always be in your best interest.