Agronomy: What is the biggest challenge in raising soybeans?
This month I decided to switch things up just a bit by posing that question to several of my customers across southwest Illinois. The general consensus was that Weed Control is the #1 challenge. Here are a few of the responses I got: “Herbicide Resistant Weeds”, “The cost of having to use chemicals that are not working well”, “Waterhemp”, “Gramoxone didn’t work”, and “Weed Control is #1, but Liberty Link® has really helped with POST applications. But now crop injury from the Pre’s is an issue”. The responses I received did not work out quite as I had anticipated, as [...]
Insect Management: Scout Early, Scout Often
Soybean planting was a slow process due to the fluctuating temperatures and excessive moisture in many areas. A month ago, while scouting and assessing wheat for stripe rust, I found mature green stink bugs and red-legged grasshoppers. The irony of the situation was that these are generally considered late-season insects. This means that they survived our rather mild winter. Above: Green Stinkbug Many pests and threats have arrived early this year. A good example is the early germination of waterhemp. I can only assume that insects are going to be an early problem as well. My weeds professor in college, [...]
Plant and Soil Health: Are we getting enough sulfur?
While visiting my customers in Southwest Illinois over the last few weeks, I have noticed pronounced yellow-green areas in the wheat fields. You’re now thinking, “What do problems in wheat have to do with soybeans?” Well, these areas (see photos below) are showing signs of sulfur (S) deficiency that have been confirmed with tissue and soil tests. Remember, S deficiency shows up on the young tissue because it is non-mobile in the plant, unlike N which shows up in the older tissues. Sulfur is a secondary nutrient required for plant growth and is essential for: two amino acids [...]
Agronomy: Are Pop-Ups or Starters Really Needed for Soybean?
Pop-Ups or In-Furrow fertilizers are typically used on corn to supply a small quantity of N (Nitrogen) and P (Phosphorus) or micronutrients. This N and P is used for early season plant vigor or to satisfy a need determined by low soil tests. Nitrogen and K (Potassium) have a high salt index and should not be used in a pop-up situation or in limited quantities. Greater salt injury can occur in sandy or dry soils and less injury in clayey or wetter soils. Products like urea, UAN solutions and ammonium thiosulfate should not be used in a pop-up situation. Years [...]
Agronomy: Soil Sampling
Hopefully there are no soybeans still in the field at this point in Illinois. Even the double crop soybeans should be out by now. So soybean management is done for the season. And while you might thinking of heading south to sunny shores for the winter, take some time to start preparing for 2016. Setting the stage for yield really begins with the soil—which begins with soil sampling and a measurement of soil health. Fall is the time to pull soil samples. Soil is fit for sampling and you can make applications of dry materials without compacting the soil. A [...]
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