ILSoyAdvisor Blog

Does seed size make a difference when deciding on what plant population to seed? A pound of soybean seed can range from a low of 2,000 seeds to a high of 3,200 seeds, but generally falls in the range of 2,400 to 2,800 seeds per lb.

This makes a difference when bagging seed, since a unit of seed (140,000 seeds) will weigh differently when seeds are small and light versus fat and heavy. Several Illinois growers have asked whether, if...

Does rolling soybeans after planting pay? It is too late to use that technology in 2015, but if has some value perhaps you can consider it in 2016.

Rolling the soil was developed as a way to level the soil and push rocks back down into the soil to make harvesting easier. This allows running the combine platform lower to pick up more pods without picking up dirt, rocks or stones. However, there is a cost to this practice plus the risk...

When a spring that started off cold and dry turns warm and wet it becomes challenging to stay ahead of weed infestations. The appearance of glyphosate resistance in our area has necessitated more aggressive weed management. Using preplant and post residuals, getting 2,4-D back into our no-till burndowns, tank-mixing products for multiple modes of action, targeting sprays on smaller weeds and using higher rates of glyphosate are all examples...

Stunted, yellow areas in my soybeans: disease, nutrient deficiency or just too much water?

Depending on your circumstances it could be one or all the above. By far the most likely culprit is the excessive amounts of moisture we’ve received lately. Yellowing in a plant is often nutrient-related but the reason for the shortage in the plant is often not a lack of nutrient in the soil. More often it is related to some soil property or root...