Don’t Forget the Beans!
By: Katie McWhirter, Precision Ag Specialist
We spend so much time talking about corn. Even when I sit down with growers, the attention to detail about seeding rates and analysis of their corn data overshadows the conversations we have about beans. Perhaps, the lack of conversation stems from frustration. We have seen how much we’ve increased yields in corn but haven’t yet seen the same rate of progression in soybeans. Even so, we shouldn’t just throw up our hands, walk away and say they’re just beans. Especially considering all the time and resources that have been invested!
After a long spell of hot and dry, we’ve been catching quite a few rain showers (some more than others). As a result, I have been noticing disease and chewing of insects starting to occur. Remember, damp conditions are part of the disease triangle. Through insect feedings, bacteria and viruses invade soybeans. Rainy and windy conditions also help to spread diseases, such as fungi. Most soybeans are still likely to be at the proper stage to spray right now. (Not sure? Ask a Stutsman Agronomist)
With that said, let’s not forget about the soybeans this growing season! With proper management, even at this stage of the game, we can trade the “this is all my beans did?” for “this is what my beans did!”