Dealing with Late Planting of Soybeans in the Midsouth

According to the May 13, 2019 Miss. Crop Progress and Condition Report from NASS, only 33% of Miss. soybean acres had been planted as of May 12. This compares to 69% planted by this date last year and the five-year average of 69% planted. Planting progress for soybeans in Arkansas was only 21% by May 12 compared to 59% in 2018 and the five-year average of 53%. These figures underline just how serious weather conditions in the Midsouth up to this time have negatively affected timely planting of the soybean crop in the region.

It is assumed that the region’s producers will push forward to plant the 2019 soybean crop when the weather permits. However, the likely later planting of the majority of the Midsouth soybean crop should cause reassessment of some production practices and issues that will be used for or will affect this later-planted crop.

One such practice that should be re-evaluated with delayed planting is the maturity group (MG) of the variety or varieties that will be planted. I suggest you use the SOYMAP resource to guide you in this decision (Click here for details about how to use SOYMAP and links to the accessory resources for this tool). This tool allows a producer to enter the planting date and latitude of the location that will be planted to find the best MG for that planting date at the designated location. It may be that the variety or varieties already on hand to be planted will still be the best choice, but this tool will provide guidance for determining if that is the case (click here for a Planting Date White Paper on this website).

With the larger-than-usual acreage of later-planted soybeans in the Midsouth in 2019, increased attention should be given to how this will likely increase the potential for infestations by insects that may not have been problematic in early plantings. It is a known and proven fact that later soybean plantings vs. early plantings in the Midsouth are more susceptible to infestations by damaging insects that can decrease yield potential if not managed. Thus, extra scouting will be warranted to ensure that these damaging pests are controlled to protect the already lower yields that will be realized from the later plantings. Click here for an Soybean Insect Management Fact Sheet that contains links to detailed information about soybean insect management, and here for results from MSPB-funded research pertaining to date of planting and insect management.

Midsouth soybean producers will be at a significant disadvantage resulting from the later plantings of many acres in 2019. They should be aware that the disadvantage(s) from this uncommon occurrence must be recognized and addressed when they occur. Regrettably, there is little that can be done to overcome the normally lower yield potential of later plantings in the region.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, May 2019, larryheatherly@bellsouth.net