Field Crop Scouting Report: Soybean Harvesting Tips
LAMAR, MO.
Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension, scouted soybeans near Irwin on Sept. 28
Scheidt observed first crop soybeans beginning to turn color and leaves dropping during her weekly scouting. Scheidt also observed second crop soybeans in the full seed stage.
“Two to three green stink bugs per foot of row were seen,” said Scheidt.
The threshold for green stink bugs is one per foot of row. Green stink bugs can cause delayed maturity and reduction in seed size and quality. According to the 2015 MU Pest Management Guide, insecticides should be sprayed when stinkbugs are at threshold level during pod fill.
“As soybeans mature, pods and seeds are harder for stinkbugs to penetrate with their needle-like mouth part,” said Scheidt.
For short-term storage (from harvest to about January), moisture content should be 13 percent or lower. For long-term, storage the moisture content should be 11 or 12 percent. If drying is necessary, natural air drying or an air drying temperature rise of 10 degrees Fahrenheit or less is recommended to avoid cracking and loss of viability.
Scheidt recommends completing harvest as quickly as possible after beans first reach combine maturity. Late harvesting at low moisture content can cause high shattering losses. If the soybeans have dried to low moisture-content levels, harvest when the beans are “tough.”
“Soybeans give up and re-absorb moisture more easily than other crops. You can reduce shattering by harvesting soybeans when the relative humidity of the air is high,” said Scheidt. ∆