Pests Are Few: Questions Exist About Baling Soybeans

LAMAR, MO.
    Brie Menjoulet, an agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension, scouted soybean fields around Golden City and Lockwood.
   Menjoulet report that in the area scouted, early planted soybeans are reaching maturity stages from R7 to R8. Double-cropped beans were still in the R6 seed development stage.
   “In the early planted fields, many pods had aborted seeds and many of seeds that did develop were smaller than normal. When drought occurs during the seed filling stage, the number of seeds and total size of the seed can be reduced as the plant tries to cope and survive with little water,” said Menjoulet.
   Podworm continues to be a problem and damaged pods were observed in all fields scouted.
   “If insecticide control is necessary, double check the pre-harvest interval on the chemical label prior to application so there is not a delay in harvest,” said Menjolet.
    Pre-harvest intervals generally range from 14 to 45 days depending on the chemical.
   MU Extension agronomy specialists in southwest Missouri are still receiving questions from producers interested in baling or chopping soybeans for livestock feed.
   Estimated tonnage for hay or chop ranges from two to four tons per acre with removal rates of about 10 lb phosphate and 25 lb potash per ton. Nitrogen removal will be higher at 45 lb per ton and some adjustments to N application into a corn rotation may be needed next year.
   “Several insecticides and fungicides prohibit the plants from being fed to livestock at all. So if you have used chemicals such as Lorsban Advanced, Hero, or products containing captan, these fields can only be harvested for grain,” said Menjolet. Δ