Hi there! Max, your favorite blogging bean is back with a final report on the 2021 growing season.

Soybean desiccation Soybean desiccation is not a new tool in other parts of the country, it has just not been used in Illinois with any frequency. In the past, harvest aids have been used to remedy problems that interfered with efficient soybean harvest e.g., green stems or excessive weeds. What is new is that more farmers are looking to desiccation in combination with earlier planting for an earlier harvest and reduced harvest loss and foreign materials (FM) that can lead to dockage. The potential yield advantage with earlier planting has been well-documented and 2021 saw many growers planting a [...]

Early season April - June Although I would love to be everywhere at once, a lot of my scouting for the 2021 season has been focused throughout Illinois stretching from Princeton to Altamont. This season I was able to make a trip down to Carbondale and was able to see fields of double crop beans coming up July 9. And I always make a trip up north to my favorite fields in Stockton at least twice a year, once in April and again September. Cover crop mix, picture Dec. 16, 2020. Stockton, IL field day April 2, 2021 at [...]

Planting soybeans can sometimes be simple, however growing soybeans can be challenging, and growing 100 bu soybeans consistently can be very challenging. Over the last 10 years, there have been major leaps forward in improving soybean genetics and agronomic practices. I always challenge growers to be a student of their fields and that if they are listening, their fields are telling them what’s wrong, but only if we’re willing to listen. As a soybean producer, it’s important to evaluate what you’re seeing or not seeing in a particular field and start asking the question of why. As most know, [...]

The reproductive stages of the soybean plant are focused on producing high pod counts and, more importantly, preserving as many as possible. During this time, a soybean plant is trying to balance its hormones and determine what number of pods and seeds it can successfully feed and finish. Stress (disease, nutritional, insect, water, or heat) during these stages can cause the plant to eliminate pods and seeds. High-yielding corn growers and agronomists say, “manage to black layer.” This means, don’t give up on a crop until it’s done. I have documented that when a corn plant reaches ¾ milk [...]

When it comes to starting off the growing season strong, seed treatments are key. According to Dale Ireland, they are one of the most important inputs for higher yield. Ireland, Technical Product Lead of Seedcard for Syngenta, says that growers can plant a great seed such as a fantastic hybrid or variety, but if it's planted with an inadequate or no seed treatment, a good deal of yield may be lost within the first few weeks of the growing season due to loss of plant stand. "The biggest benefit of using a seed treatment is a greater number of [...]

Planting a crop can be an emotional roller coaster for a farmer, besides selling grain too soon. My grandfather would say “put your bare bottom” on the soil and if you cringe, it’s too cold and too early to plant. Based off how often I heard this same story this past spring, the generation prior to us was definitely one of the greatest. The last three springs have brought up a lot of debate on when we should or should not be planting. In general, a soybean plant can withstand early season challenges better than a corn plant. And [...]

Illinois grows the most bushels of soybeans of any state in the United States. The varieties we typically grow here are called “indeterminate” which means their pattern of growth can change as the season and conditions allow year to year. Staging soybeans is an important aspect to managing a healthy crop because many of our crop protection products have specific usage windows. Let’s walk through the stages and discuss crop protection considerations at each growth stage. Preplant – This one is pretty self-explanatory. Preplant is the term used to describe a field of soybeans that has yet to be [...]

Many parts of the Central Illinois region have been hit with multiple inches of rain, causing several ponding issues. One observation we can easily see is when there is water on the surface. What is harder to see, and to realize, is when a field is fully saturated, but not showing water on the surface. Here’s an example. I was walking a field in early July, and it was certainly wet enough to require me to throw on my muck boots. The field was showing symptoms of water damage, but no standing water was present.  As I walked out [...]