Developments/Factors That Can/Will Affect Economic Production of Soybeans
New ideas and products for improving efficiency of soybean production are constantly forthcoming, and these should be scrutinized objectively to determine their worth. Thus, the following subjects should be of interest to Midsouth soybean producers
SEED TREATMENT SURVEY. An article titled “New survey highlights farmer adoption of seed treatment applications“ by ASA economist Jacquie Holland provides the following points from a survey of soybean farmers that was conducted in July 2024.
• Seed treatments are used by U.S. soybean producers on about 90% of planted acres as a proactive way to ensure against a stand failure and to protect emerging seedlings against early season pests.
• Fungicides [80%] and insecticides [71%] are the most widely used seed treatments in the U.S.
• Since seed treatments are applied directly to seed that are planted below the soil surface, their use helps minimize the negative ecological impacts of alternative pesticides that would be applied over an entire field by reducing off-target exposure to plants and animals.
• Higher seeding rates are the preferred alternative by the small number of respondents who choose not to use seed treatments, while a later planting date was the least preferred because of the perceived yield penalty.
• An overall decline in soybean seeding rates in the U.S. can be partially attributed to the use of seed treatments.
• The survey results find that farmers would likely face lower yields and higher production costs without the availability and use of seed treatments.
Midsouth soybean growers know the value of seed treatments that lower the risk of a failed stand in early plantings. A full report of results from the survey that was sponsored by ASA and USB can be found here. Click here to access a White Paper titled “Soybean seed treatments and inoculants” that is posted on this website.
ENVERSA HERBICIDE. Corteva Agriscience has developed this residual herbicide with a proprietary formulation of encapsulated acetochlor [Group 15] that is labeled for hard-to-control broadleaf and grass weeds that include Palmer amaranth, barnyard grass, and fall panicum. It is touted to be a preferred residual tankmix partner with Enlist One herbicide for Enlist E3 soybean varieties. Enversa has a wide application window that ranges from preplant to R2. Click here to access videos that outline the benefits of this new herbicide formulation.
SOYBEAN TEST WEIGHT. Quality of harvested soybean seed is used to determine the price that is paid for a load that is delivered to a buyer [e.g. an elevator]. One attribute that is used by elevators to determine quality is test weight [seed density], or the weight of seed in a given volume. The standard test weight for U.S. soybeans is 60 lb/bu, and this value is always used to convert the scale weight of a soybean load to the number of bushels in that load. However, most grain buyers will only begin discounting a soybean load if the test weight is below 54 lb/bu. Test weights lower than this value can lead to dockage that will reduce the economic value of a load [click here to access a White Paper that shows how a low test weight can reduce the price received per bushel of soybeans].
The following points regarding test weight are important for soybean producers to remember.
• Test weight is a critical quality measure of soybean seed that also influences the market value of the harvested product.
• Test weight is a volumetric measurement that considers both the weight and volume of the seed, and helps account for fluctuations in density of the seed.
• Low test weights can lead to a decreased price for a load of seed.
• High quality soybean seed should have a good test weight.
• Soybean grades are related to a minimum test weight value. For example, the minimum acceptable test weight for No. 1 yellow soybeans is 56 lb/bu, while the value is 54 lb/bu for No. 2 yellow soybeans.
• Lower soybean test weights are more likely to occur because of abiotic and/or biotic stresses that occur during seedfill. These stresses will negatively affect the uptake and transport of nutrients to the seed, thereby reducing the weight of those seed. Thus, special attention should be given where possible to controlling factors such as insect infestations and lack of moisture during seedfill that can negatively affect test weight.
• Test weight seldom correlates with seed yield.
Click “What is a good test weight for soybeans” for an article that provides a concise summary of the significance of test weight and factors that can affect it.
SOYBEAN PLANTING SPEED. There is no doubt that early planting of soybeans in the Midsouth is important for achieving maximum seed yield. However, weather conditions during the “early planting window” in this U.S. region can sometimes limit the number of acres that can be planted at the optimum time. Thus, it is important to plant as many soybean acres as possible during the often limited time that early planting can be accomplished. This means that planting speeds must by maximized so that the intended acres can be planted during the “early planting window”.
An article in Agron. Journal titled “Evaluation of high-speed planter in soybean production” by Kovács and Casteel evaluated soybean planting speed using a John Deere ExactEmerge 1775NT high speed planter. The following points are contained in that article.
• The study was conducted during 2015-2017 in Indiana.
• Planting speeds of 5, 7.5, and 10 mph were used. An additional planting speed of 12.5 mph was added in 2016.
• Seeding rates of 90 and 130 thousand seeds/acre were included in all 3 years, and a seeding rate of 170 thousand seeds/acre was added in 2016.
• Overall, planting speeds used in this study did not significantly affect seedling emergence, harvest stand, and seed yield.
• The authors concluded that more attention should be paid to setting the planter prior to planting when using higher planting speeds.
• Finally, the results from this research indicate that planting speeds of up to 10 mph can be used for planting soybeans without negatively affecting plant population and seed yield.
Midsouth soybean producers are reminded that: 1) this research was conducted using only one brand of planter; 2) a planting speed >10 mph was not evaluated for more than one year; 3) an individual producer should ensure that the planter that is used is designed for high-speed planting, and that the manufacturer’s recommended settings for such planting are used; and 4) a later replanting of a failed stand will likely result in a lower yield.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Oct. 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com