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On July 06, 2018

To Consider These Steps For Double Crop Soybean Production

With both wheat and barley being harvested double crop soybeans are being planted now across the state.  Here are considerations to ensure profitable double crop soybeans . Key steps include  plant thick, plant narrow, use longer maturity and manage weeds up front.

It takes about 90 days for soybeans to develop pods and dry seed so if we get an average frost we need to be planting beans by July 15- August 1 at the absolute latest in Pa to be in the window for harvest based on average frost free dates. Extension Agronomist Del Voight offers these additional considerations.

Plan to establish at least a 180,000 plants per acre (ppa) so to achieve that a minimum planted population of 200,000 is recommended for double crop beans prior to July 5 after which 220,000 ppa might be in order to ensure ideal canopy cover.

Plant narrow rows, less than 15 inch,  7 inch  or narrower preferred. There is less time for the soybeans to gain height to pod so the narrow rows allows for more beans to grow at higher populations. If the field has visible weeds be sure to burn down to ensure weed competition is kept to a minimum.

Set a realistic economic target. Traditional double crop yields of 30bu/acre are not out of the question (we typically see about a 50% response the first week of July)and at $9/bushel soybeans there is some but not a lot of room to spend input costs over and above the basics which need to be spent to make the crop.

Be aware of the potential for an early frost,  if forage is needed consider management for a forage use of the soybean.  If the goal is forage supply then perhaps sorghum sudan or other annual crop may be a better selection.

There has been talk about moving to a shorter maturity. Past experience in this area would suggest full season maturities for double crops may out yield short season maturities. Our double crop beans planted with full maturity over the last several years have matured with no problems in the fall. Last season which was also a wet season our Lancaster Double Crop Soybean Trials averaged 54bu/acre planted on June 24th at 220,000ppa.   For April and May plantings, a 3 day delay on planting  resulted in a 1 day delay in maturity. For example if 30 days late planted this would cause a 10 day later maturity.  However, in the June and July plantings a 5 day delay in planting will result in 1 day difference in maturity (Holhouser Virginia Tech). For example if planting 15 days later the crop would only mature 3 days later than normal.  Most important is to plant a maturity group that would grow as long as possible in the vegetative stage to gain height before flowering which allows for an adequate canopy for maximum yield and still mature before a frost.Finally Dr Greg Roth and Voight are looking at other parameters for double crop soybeans that might prove useful in the future to further add yield to this late plant timing.  We are revisiting row width, date of planting, growth regulators, seed treatments and other practices to ensure recommendations stay current. Stay tuned for more information as the Mid Atlantic region begins to focus on this double crop timing.

To Participate In A Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Management Survey for Commercial Producers

A nation-wide survey is currently underway to gather information from farmers and growers on the economic impact of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) on agriculture. The objective of the survey is to better provide you with the help you need in managing this pest. We’d like to find out when BMSB became a problem for you, where you currently get information on how to control them, how much damage you have suffered, your use of and interest in various management practices, and your feelings about biological control methods and their potential for your operation. The results of the survey will be used by Extension programs across the United States to fine-tune management advice for the BMSB and help prioritize research and outreach activities.

If you’d like to participate, the survey should take you about 20-25 minutes to complete. Your individual survey responses will be confidential and the data collected will only be reported in summaries. Your participation is voluntary, and you can decide not to answer a given question if you choose. The link to the on-line survey along with more information about the survey can be found at:http://www.stopbmsb.org/stink-bug-bulletin/brown-marmorated-stink-bug-management-survey-for-commercial-producers/

If you have any questions about the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Management Survey for Commercial Producers, please contact Jayson Harper by e-mail at jhk4@psu.edu.

To Attend The Penn State Hemp Research Field Day

Penn State Extension and the Penn State Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) are hosting an informational session for farmers, marketers, industry representatives and others interested in the potential for hemp growing and processing here in the state.

Hemp is a crop which was once widely grown in central PA, and had a wide variety of uses from food to feed to fiber. We will discuss some of the traditional uses of hemp products as well as potential new uses such as CBDs, Nutraceuticals, Essential Oils and much more. You can see hemp research plots in the field, and learn from Penn State, Pa Dept. of Ag. and hemp industry professionals.

This event will be held on August 7, 2018 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. This well be held  at the Penn State Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC), 1446 Auction Road, Manheim, PA 17545.

To register and for more information go to: https://extension.psu.edu/hemp-research-field-day .

Quote Of The Week: “I am entirely a farmer, soul, and body, never scarcely admitting a sentiment on any other subject.” President Thomas Jefferson