Season 3, Episode 26 of Battle for the Belt is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2Y8lAU8gM
In Episode 26, we hear from Dr. Laura Lindsey, the Ohio State Extension Soybean Specialist, where she discusses key insights on managing soybean harvest after drought conditions and highlights lessons learned from last year’s weather challenges (a dry season followed by heavy rains).
As soybean harvest approaches, it is important for Ohio farmers to prepare for the challenges created by the recent drought conditions and rainfall forecasted for this week. Much like last year, large areas of the state have experienced abnormally dry to extreme drought, which can lead to harvest complications if not managed carefully.
In 2024, severe drought in central and southern Ohio was followed by heavy rainfall from Hurricane Helene. Prior to the major rainfall, the dry weather led to compromised pods, or pods that were split open easily. This sudden change in weather caused already dry soybeans, ranging from 6-10% moisture, to sprout prematurely in pods (Figure 1). Early planted soybeans were hit the hardest due to their lower moisture and being further along maturity wise at the time of the rainfall events. Darkened stems, pods, and seeds were associated with pathogens from the Diaporthe/ Phomopsis complex, Fusarium, Cercospora, Alternaria, and other saprophytic fungi.
To avoid similar issues this season, it is critical to harvest soybeans as soon as they reach 13% moisture, if possible. Delays from waiting out green stems or hoping for better weather can potentially increase the risks associated with rainfall. Poor harvest conditions do not just affect the current year but can also impact seed germination for the following season. This was evident in 2025, when seed produced under 2024’s conditions showed lower than expected germination rates.
To protect crop quality and long-term productivity, focus should be on best management practices. These include selecting disease resistant varieties, using certified pathogen-free seed, applying fungicide seed treatments to protect seedlings, and implementing effective crop rotation with non-host crops to reduce soil-borne pathogens. While unpredictable weather events are unavoidable, timely harvest and proactive disease management can go a long way.
For those interested in learning more, Dr. Lindsey and others have published a detailed study on the impact of Hurricane Helene on soybean production in the journal; Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. It provides additional insight into how extreme weather events affected soybean production throughout Ohio. Access here: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cft2.70060
What’s happening in the field?
Conditions remained hot and dry across our three research locations and the state, with minimal to no rainfall recorded in the past week. As a result, drought intensity increased statewide, with several areas moving to moderate, severe, and extreme drought according to the latest U.S. drought monitor update (Figure 2). However, recent forecasts suggest rain is expected across the state this coming week, which would bring some drought relief.
At the Northwest location, the first two soybean planting dates reached the R7 (beginning maturity) stage early in the week and dried down sufficiently to be harvested later in the week. Later planting dates are still maturing, with the latest planting (June 24th) nearing the R6 stage. Most soybeans at Western are at the R6 stage (full seed), with the first planting date at R7. Soybeans at Wooster range between R6 to R8 (full maturity).
Corn dry-down is progressing rapidly across all regions. Planting dates one and two at the Northwest and Western locations, and planting dates one, two, and three at Wooster, have reached physiological maturity (R6). Later planting dates range between milk (R3) to R5 (dent) at our sites.
Harvest is expected to pick up within the next couple of weeks as crops continue to quickly dry down. Table 1 provides growth stages and weather summaries for our three research sites.
Keep following the ‘Battle for the Belt’ this growing season to learn more and get further updates! You can find the full video playlist of Battle for the Belt on the Ohio State Agronomy YouTube channel.
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