CropLife e-News

Plant Soybeans Right The First Time

Short soybean seed supply increases need for good planting practices to avoid replanting.

Cool, wet soils can cause extra hazards to soybean seed being planted this spring. Caution should be taken at planting time to assure good stands, says a University of Missouri Extension agronomist.

"Bad things can happen to good seed," says Bill Wiebold, MU soybean specialist. "Worse things happen to poor-quality seed."

Extra precautions may be needed this year to avoid a need for replanting, Wiebold says. "With a short seed supply and high demand for seed for increased soybean acreage, there may be a short supply of elite seed available for replant."

Selecting high-quality seed, delaying planting until soils are ready, treating the seed, and careful handling of seeds during planting help ensure a good stand.

"I don't usually recommend treating seeds with fungicides," Wiebold says. "This may be a year to use seed treatments, both fungicides and insecticides, to assure a better stand."