C.O.R.N. Newsletter

I looked at the soybean prices on Sunday – all were still less than $10/Bushel.  This price combined with yield losses due to late planting, extra expenses for additional late weed control, and flood injury really put the kibosh on all but the most guaranteed return on investment for the remainder of 2015.  Here are a few guidelines, results from our studies in Ohio that point to the best return on investment.

Due to wet weather, a few farmers in northwest Ohio have not yet planted soybean.  Can this soybean seed be saved and planted next year? 

1.)  Check with your seed dealer.  Your seed dealer may have options available to return seed.  Check with your seed dealer to see what your options are.

The majority of the soybean acres in Ohio have been planted.  (According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 85% of the soybean acres were planted by May 31.)  However, even if 5% of the soybean acres are not yet planted, with 5.1 million acres of soybean in Ohio, there are still 255,000 acres left to plant.  There are three things to consider when planting soybean in June: 1.) row width, 2.) seeding rate, and 3.) relative maturity.

While a variety of rainfall and soil moisture conditions can be found around Ohio, a shortage of rain following application of residual herbicides seems to be common.  We are hearing about weeds emerging early in the season even where residual herbicides were applied, which is an indicator of inadequate herbicide “activation”, or lack of downward movement into the upper inch or two of soil where weed seeds germinate.