Preparing to plant soybeans is no small feat. You have to account for many factors outside your control, from soil conditions to weather stresses. However, several factors are within your control, such as seed selection, nutrient inputs and the steps you take to control diseases and pests.
As next season is fast approaching, we’ve put together a list of several key areas you should focus on to set yourself up for success — and the highest possible soybean yield.
1. Seed selection and seed treatments
Soybean seed selection is one of the most important management decisions influencing soybean production.
It is key to use multiple sources of information when choosing soybean seed. Furthermore, a crop consultant who is familiar with your fields can help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of available varieties and select those best suited for your specific operation.
Diversifying the varieties you plant across your farm can also help minimize risk so you aren’t relying on one variety alone. Some experts recommend planting six different varieties across your fields for best results.¹
When making your variety selection, don’t forget to factor in the history of disease present in your fields. This will help you strategize seed treatment plans for the coming season.
2. Soil testing and fertility
Pre-season soil tests are helpful in measuring soil characteristics like pH and guiding plant nutrient levels accordingly. The results of your soil tests can be the foundation for building your fertilization plan. By testing soils in the fall, you can apply necessary P, K and lime to prepare an optimal seedbed for next year’s soybean crop.
3. Planning for controlling weeds, insects, diseases
Field history and known-problem pests will also inform how you’ll manage pest control in the coming season.
Start your pre-season strategy by reviewing the previous season’s integrated pest management (IPM) program. Using scouting data collected throughout the season can help you determine what worked and what didn’t and can guide your strategy adjustments. Since soybeans are rarely planted back to back but instead are grown every other year in the same field, review the approach from the last time soybeans were planted in the field. For example, if your soybeans struggled with white mold two years ago in the field, expect to see it return this upcoming season.
While no soybean varieties are resistant to white mold, some varieties do offer better tolerance than others. White mold is most effectively managed by the use of foliar fungicides with specific white mold activity. Endura® fungicide has been shown to be one of the most effective for white mold when applied near row closure at about the V2 stage of soybean growth.
Experts are available to help you make your decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative.
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Endnotes
- Naeve, Seth L. “Choosing the Best Soybean Varieties for Your Field.” Extension at the University of Minnesota, 2018, extension.umn.edu/soybean-variety-selection/choosing-best-soybean-varieties-your-field. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.
