of Double-Crop Soybean Yie ields Kelly Robertson, CPAg, CCA - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Key Agronomic Considerations of Double-Crop Soybean Yie ields Kelly Robertson, CPAg, CCA Precision Crop Services Benton, IL

When it comes to Double-Crop Soybeans, there are things we Can’t Manage or Control . • Planting date. (Late or later) • Temperature. (Hot or real hot) • Water. (Too much or not enough)* • Sunshine. (GDU’s) • Frost. (Early or late) • Harvest Date. (Depends on all the above)

Therefore, We Do What High Yield Managers Do • Control the Controllable. • Manage what you can manage. • Negate what you can’t manage.

Our Double Crop Strategy Begins…. • While the wheat is still dormant in January and February. • By understanding that what we do to our wheat crop after it breaks dormancy effects our double-crop soybean crop plans. • When we view wheat and Double-Crop Soybeans as a cropping system and not two separate crops. 4

Our Strategy: Control the Controllable • The combine is not the CUE to plant beans. Soil conditions are! • Yea, it’s late, but why plant into mud/standing water/concrete? What is a couple more days going to matter? • Apply fertilizer based on a yield goal. POTASH! • If you don’t fertilize when you plant the wheat, then spread on the straw at or after planting. • Buy seed based on genetic potential and characteristics needed for late planting, not price! • What I want in a soybean for late planting: tall, bushy, late Group 4 through early 5, high Phytophthora rating, excellent emergence, likes high populations. • Use treated seed. It’s a harsh environment.

Our Strategy: Control the Controllable • Start Clean – Stay Clean with weed control. • Keep the competition down. Insure the beans have every chance for available water and nutrients • DON’T get yourself in trouble for the next year. Watch those labels! • You have one chance to get a stand. Drop enough seeds to insure you will get a stand • 200,000 Plus? How much? 250,000? • Have a planter that can cut the residue, make a seed slot and close the trench. • This isn’t no -till into clean fragile residue in April/May/June.

You Have a Crop. . PROTECT IT IT! • If scouting shows the need for an insecticide, herbicide or fungicide, be ready to spray! • SCOUT! D on’t guess or apply because your neighbor – retailer – horoscope - coffee shop said so. • READ THE LABEL! • Watch Cropping Rotation/Restrictions!