Latest News From Soybeans

USDA's April WASDE report showed larger wheat and soybean ending stocks, but smaller ending stocks for corn. More surprising, still, was the lack of changes to South America's crop estimates.

Some Illinois farmers started planting soybeans in late March. Ken Ferrie offers tips to help you weigh the risks of planting now. Plus, be aware that poor saturated cold scores are impacting some seed corn hybrids.

Fire fighters from across the U.S. participated in a fire demonstration at the Dalton, Georgia fire department looking at the effectiveness of Soyfoam, the first soy based fire suppressant.

Since the 1950s, fire departments across the country have used products containing dangerous PFAS to put out fires. But the United Soybean Board has announced a greener alternative made from soybean meal.

Brian Ray is confident his soybeans will yield more this season, thanks to the use of 100 lb/A of ammonium sulfate preplant applied. He and his retailer, Brent Peters, anticipate a 4 bu/A average increase or higher.

USDA cut its estimate for Brazil’s soybean production by 1 MMT in the March WASDE report, which was less than what the trade expected. USDA didn’t make any cuts to Brazil’s corn.

The company sees this new formulation as a potential replacement for liquid seed treatment. 

Zalo herbicide is registered for early to mid-post-emergence use to control a broad spectrum of broadleaf and grass weeds.

USDA weekly export sales released this week showed soybean exports fell 28% from the previous week. The story isn't as dreary for corn, as corn exports have made a bit of a comeback from last year.

Myron Stine says Stine Seed is celebrating its 45-year history with a keen eye on the future.

What caused the price pressure again this week? Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing by Stewart-Peterson and John Payne of hEDGEpoint Global join U.S. Farm Report to discuss what the market is watching.

InnerPlant is developing early-stress signaling capabilities in soybeans and corn. The concept is getting serious buy-in from big players in U.S. agriculture.

Soybean prices continued to slide this week on news that a wetter weather pattern is blanketing Brazil. The rains are giving the crops a much-needed drink after battling severe drought conditions at the end of 2023.

Brazil is seeing a sudden shift in weather with heavy rains now forecasted over the next two weeks. While it will bring relief to drought areas, it could cause harvest delays and issues planting the safrinha corn crop. 

“I’m shooting for consistent averages around 75 or 80 bushels without stacking inputs,” says Matt Griggs. “ROI don’t lie.”

Analysts say it's go-time for the impacts of South American weather, but Argentina's new president, and major policy changes, also spooked the markets this week. Chip Nellinger and Brian Grete explain why.

To help growers create an effective management plan for controlling soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the SCN Coalition shares five key steps to take.

As the costliest pest in the U.S. for soybeans, this breakthrough means there will finally be options to develop varieties with enhanced SCN resistance.

InnerSoy is genetically engineered to omit signals when stressed, which are detectable from as far away as space. The company says its products can show stress signals two weeks before current detection methods.

AgResource Company forecasts 80% of the soybean crop is planted as of today, but for some farmers it's been a year of replant for both corn and soybeans.

"By expanding into soybeans, we're showing our commitment to providing solutions for our customers and investing in the future of row crop growers," said Spencer Harris.

Dredging the Mississippi River to a depth of 50' allows 500,000 more soybean bushels to be loaded per vessel, which helps lower freight rates and adds to the value of the soybeans exported.

The port of South Louisiana is the No. 1 export port for grain by volume in the U.S., so it's important for U.S. farmers getting their product to export markets. 

Fields in central Brazil are baking in high temperatures and low levels of moisture. One meterologist says farmers there are now questioning whether they will plant their second corn crop, the so-called safrinha crop.

Pioneer announces its Z-Series brand of soybeans will be available in limited quantity for next season.

BASF is introducing xarvio SeedSelect, a novel seed variety placement technology based on an algorithm derived from plot trial research, local topographic and soil attributes, and variety-specific yield characteristics.

Illinois farmer Ryan Myers has increased his 60-bushel-per-acre yield average to 70-plus-bushel averages in just three years. How? By focusing on the details from variety selection to in-season management.

Major infrastructure investments being made at the port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Wash., will help improve the efficiency of getting product to market and help expand soybean meal exports. 

A handful of soybeans scattered on the ground doesn't look like much, but small numbers can quickly add up to large losses. Evaluating the situation and making adjustments can help you take more beans to the bin.

An increase in crushing capacity means there's going to be more soybean meal available for export. To prepare for that transition, infrastructure improvements are being made at the Port of Grays Harbor in Washington.

Poncho Votivo Precise from BASF offers a combination of protection to address nematodes and early-season insects in soybeans. The product contains a biological and insecticide.

Weather in Brazil is as big of a market mover as forecasts in the U.S. Why has Brazil grown so aggressively? One economist recently spent six months in Brazil and says a combination of factors is aiding their growth.

If your combine monitor is showing a wide range of yields in the field, Ken Ferrie says to investigate. Evaluate soybean stand, pod set and bean size while there’s agronomic evidence.

The online tool from the SCN Coalition is free and easy to use. It’s backed by research done on more than 25,000 university soybean research plots across the U.S.

The historically low water levels on the Mississippi River have caused a trifecta in the soybean market.  Its increased freight weights, slammed basis levels and taken a real toll on exports.

Yields can take a 5-bu.-per-acre hit as a result of the sickle running so high on stems it cuts off branches and allows them to fall below the deck. Losses can be reduced to 1 bu. per acre with header adjustments.

Corteva Agriscience introduces Viatude and LumiTreo to address tough disease issues and protect soybean yield potential. Both will be available for use in 2024. There are limited supplies of Viatude this season, as well.

Georgia farmer Alex Harrell just grew the highest yielding soybeans in agriculture history — 206.7997 bushels per acre.

Upon registration, BASF plans to introduce Liberty Ultra for grass and broadleaf weed control in glufosinate-tolerant soybeans, corn, cotton and canola next season.

As the Midwest sets to bake in the coming days, the Pro Farmer Crop Tour will be closely followed, especially since traders and analysts are watching to see how soybeans stand up to the heat.

After record low water levels on many of the major rivers used for export movement in 2022, agriculture could see a repeat this fall.

Drought is impacting operations along the Panama Canal, one of the largest shipping channels in the world, with restrictions now placed on both the number of ships, as well as the amount of cargo they can carry.

The increased incidence of the disease this year in the Midwest has to do with the extremely hot, dry weather followed by heavy precipitation events farmers received in June and July.

Nonconformity is nature in Bill Jones’ triple-cropping world. “This is about ROI, hitting yield averages, and taking care of my soil,” says Jones. “Home runs are fine, but they’re for somebody else to chase.”

In Bob Lindeman’s soybean rows, planting populations are on a general decline, and the reduction is not about saving dollars up front, but on combatting mold and rot.

Double-digit yield losses are not uncommon. To date, 14 Illinois counties have confirmed the disease, and it's being scouted for elsewhere by seed company and Extension pathologists and agronomists.

USDA released a few big surprises in the June acreage report, including a spike in corn acres and a large reduction in soybean acres. The agency also forecasts grain stocks below trade expectations.

The pest is showing up in early-season soybeans. Current numbers don't necessarily warrant treatment. Because the pests can double in population in only a few days, scouting is the only way to stay on top of them.

Dry weather stymied many early-season control efforts. But keep going after weeds, agronomists encourage. Why? Research shows weeds not controlled after V2 can reduce soybean yields by up to 1% per day.

Sluggish exports continue to be the main theme in the grain markets with USDA cutting both old and new crop ending stocks. Arlan Suderman of StoneX Group says the bigger story moving forward might be soft corn demand.