In a perfect world, the soybean plant would pop up out of the ground, grow some leaves and then really stretch a bit before setting where that first pod will form. The reality for many western Canadian farmers, however, is … Continue reading →
In this Soybean School West audio episode, Rob Gulden outlines the risks of volunteer canola in soybeans and the potential long-term impact of letting these towering plants set seed every year. From yield loss, to ongoing disease pressure for canola … Continue reading →
Phosphorus management is and must be a long term proposition. Phosphorus behaves very differently than nitrogen in the soil, as it binds tightly to soil particles and releases slowly over time. This is good and bad — it’s not subject … Continue reading →
Is the soybean setting on the combine really where you should start when setting up the combine for harvest? And is a flex header really necessary or just a nice-to-have sort of piece of equipment? The answers are yes and … Continue reading →
Hear that? If you shake soybean plants and hear the rattle of seeds in the pods, the plant has reached physiological maturity. Does that mean the crop is ready to harvest or past being damaged by frost? Not so fast. … Continue reading →
If you’re relatively new to growing soybeans, you’re likely checking on the crop more often than others. That’s good, of course, as scouting is rarely a waste of time. What you may be seeing at this time of year is … Continue reading →
In this episode of Soybean School West, I talk to Lyndsey Smith of RealAgriculture.com about why you may see yellowing of soybean plants in your field. There are few things more troubling to a farmer than a sickly looking or … Continue reading →
Towering yellow-flowered plants in a soybean field don’t just look a bit out of place, these volunteer canola plants are actually competing with the crop and using valuable soil nutrients. Just how much of an impact this has on final … Continue reading →
Rolling soybean fields at or just after planting can be most efficient, but planting conditions aren’t always exactly rolling-friendly. The good news is there is still time to roll long after seeding, with one very specific no-go window. But first, … Continue reading →
While planters most certainly do a precise job at soybean planting depth, many farmers are still on the fence over whether or not the benefits are worth the added investment of a second (or third) planting implement. After all, does … Continue reading →
Inoculating soybeans properly and with the appropriate product is one of the top two important decisions that factor into the success of the crop (variety selection for your region is the first). A 40-bushel an acre crop will require roughly … Continue reading →
As more Manitoba farmers add soybeans into the crop rotation, it stands to reason that pests that attack the crop will begin showing up as well. Root rots — and there are so very many species that cause this — … Continue reading →
Only a few months ago, soybeans were the darling crop of nearly every farmer from Manitoba to Alberta. The crop could do no wrong, it seemed, and everyone wanted a piece of this nitrogen-fixing pie. Acres in Manitoba were set … Continue reading →
