Soybeans are Beginning to Flower
I saw my first flowers in soybean fields this week. This is the R1 stage. This is a critical stage of application of the traited post-emergence products.
Glyphosate products can be applied through flowering. The full flower stage, R2, is defined as an open flower at one of the top two nodes on the mainstem. Full flower ends at R3 when a pod at one of the top four nodes is 3/16 of an inch long.
Glufosinate (LibertyLink): Applied up to first bloom (R1 stage).
Enlist (E3), (Glyphosate, Glufosinate & 2,4,-D): Do not apply later than R1.
Winter Wheat in NWNY has Begun
Winter wheat has been about 7 days ahead all season and so an earlier harvest was expected. Wheat was being harvested in Niagara County on July 1. Most was between 18-22% moisture. A lot more started diving in yesterday afternoon with some moistures between 14-16% in Seneca County. Yields have been good, between 75 and 100 bushels/acre. Test weights so far have been 59 and under.
Opportunity for Double Crop Soybeans
With the earlier wheat harvest, there is an opportunity to get some double crop soybeans planted. I know some growers have done this and it can be hit or miss. It really comes down to moisture right now. If your ground is dry right now and looks to remain dry, I would keep the beans in the bag. I have had a couple calls this week of growers that are going for it if they can get the wheat off this week. Every day matters as our days are now getting shorter. Even 25 bushels would be a good double crop acre. Some tips to follow:
No till into the wheat stubble. If you leave the straw, make sure your row cleaners are clearing residue to get that seed/soil contact.
Plant early to mid-group 2 soybeans. With the shorter days moving forward, they will put on more nodes and hopefully get a little taller than a Group 0 or 1
Bump up the population 15%. More plants mean more pods to help compensate for the shorter growing season. Hopefully, push the plants taller so that pods develop a little higher and are not left in the field.
Plant on 7.5 or 15 inch rows. This will allow for more interception of available sunlight, close canopy sooner, conserve moisture and help weed control.
Plant 1 to 1.5 inches deep. You want to get that seed immediately into some moisture, swell and get out of the ground. This will also help the rhizobium develop and not dry out.
Try to start weed free. Eliminate any competition for water and nutrients. If you go with an early post application, make sure it’s EARLY!
Fertility? I have not seen a lot of recommendations. I have had some say that they don’t add any fertilizer, and another say they put 50 lbs. of MAP (11-52-0) with some potash through the planter. I would love to hear what others are doing with fertility.
Next report will be July 10.
