The soybean season hasn’t yet started in NC, but in Puerto Rico, it is going strong. Puerto Rico is used by many public and commercial breeders as an off-season nursery. This provides breeders the opportunity to get one (or two) additional crops in each season which helps speed up the variety development process. Developing…
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As we gear up for #plant17, now is the time to start thinking about planting management decisions. At this point, most of you have selected varieties and purchased seed, so one of the next things to think about is soybean seeding rate. Conventional wisdom says planting high populations will ensure maximum yields, but actually, this…
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This week we continue with our management decisions series. Last week we discussed seeding rate and how you may be able to save money by decreasing your seeding rates. If you missed it, catch up here. In part two of our management decisions series, we’re talking planting date. Before we get into some data, it’s…
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Up this week is part three of our management decisions series. If you missed the posts on planting populations or planting date, catch up here and here. While deciding on the optimum seeding rate and planting date for your operation are important, without proper weed control none of those decisions matter. Weed management is a…
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The 5+ inches of rain much of the state saw this week has put a hold on planting for a few days, but you can use this time to make sure you are ready to start (or continue) planting when things dry out. As Dr. Heinniger says, “Planting day is the most important day of…
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Soybeans have long been viewed as a “rotational crop” in North Carolina, and proper fertilization programs for soybeans are often ignored. But, an interest in the production of high-yielding soybeans has stimulated interest in maximizing soybean yield via proper fertilization. There is also interest in in-season nutrient applications to help boost yields. …
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Last week we discussed some basics of soybean fertility (catch up here if you missed it). We know how important sufficient levels of P and K are but do soybeans need N upfront or in-season? Unlike most of our other crops soybeans have the ability to obtain their own nitrogen through N fixation. N fixation is…
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One of the next new things in the soybean world may be in-furrow applications. While this is still a relatively new practice, the idea of using fungicides, insecticides, or starter fertilizers is promising as it may help start the plant off to a faster growth trajectory. In-furrow products differ from seed treatments as they theoretically…
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Certain parts of the state have seen 10+ inches of rain in the last 30 days (compared to our normal 3-4”). With the rain certain parts have seen in the last few weeks, it might have been tough to get in the field. But if you did get beans in the ground in between…
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North Carolina farmers know how important it is to take care of protecting both land and water resources. We’re proud of all that our growers do to ensure they are producing soybeans in a sustainable manner. In addition to working hard each day to take care of the land, it’s also important…
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With two new herbicide-resistant technologies widely available this season, it is now more important than ever to know which fields are safe for which applications. Also, warning the applicator (or other growers in the area) which fields will be sensitive to off-target drift is critical. A simple mix-up by an applicator on which field…
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The excessive wet weather over the last 30 days has delayed soybean planting (and everything else) for many growers. Whether you planned to plant your soybeans late because of wheat, or the weather has gotten you behind, keep these things in mind to maximize yields with late-season beans. Typically, planting in late June or July…
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