If you want to see a significant soybean yield increase this season, don’t rely on genetic improvements alone to make it happen.
Instead, consider products that minimize the impact of inclement weather, diseases and pests, especially in early soybeans, advises Kris Ehler, a sales agronomist for Ehler Brothers Co., Thomasboro, Ill.
“One of my favorite things to do is maximize seed real estate,” he says.
Ehler explains that for every 100 pounds of soybean seed, you can add about 8 ounces of product, such as fungicides, insecticides and inoculants.
“Those are low-hanging fruit for yield,” he says.
Even if you plant soybeans using a so-called standard treatment, Ehler says the amount might only total 3.5 ounces of the total 8 ounces available. That would leave you with 4.5 ounces to devote to other treatments.
“Like a nematicide – we’re talking tenths of an ounce per 100 pounds of seed to take care of yield-robbing nematode pests,” he says.
Two other seed treatments he says are good investments to protect yield potential:
A product for sudden death syndrome (SDS). “These aren’t cheap,” he says. “They’re going to cost you anywhere from $10 to $11 an acre to get on the seed. But soybeans are $14 bucks on the board right now (in early March). We’re still putting money in our pocket, and we’re protecting that plant.”
In the Midwest a seed treatment to protect against SDS is essential with early soybean planting, because seeds may lay in the ground for 20 to 30 days, according to 2020 Farm Journal Test Plot research.
A soil inoculant. Ehler says using one will cost you about $4 an acre. “I would inoculate every acre every single year,” he says. “If you haven’t inoculated in the last five to 10 years, do it and see what your responses are – you will see a positive response.”
Delbert Voight, Penn State Extension educator for agronomy, is a proponent of inoculation in high-yield scenarios. However, he says determining whether annual inoculation is beneficial “is a work in progress.”
He cautions that before applying an inoculation material it is important to check its compatibility with any other seed-delivered technologies.
Products Must Deliver Value
Finishing products, such as titanium dioxide, are not on Ehler’s list of treatment recommendations.
“I’m not a fan,” he says.
He acknowledges finishing products create a bit of lubrication for seed, allowing you to potentially use less talc or graphite at planting. However, he says such products can prevent other ones with more potential value from sticking to soybean seed, including biologicals.
Cover Your Bases
Ehler says using soybean seed treatments is no substitute for creating a solid foundation for the growing season – picking a strong genetic seed package, applying adequate nutrients and implementing timely weed control practices.
But he is confident many soybean growers are missing out on the opportunity to boost yields and be more profitable by not maximizing their seed real estate.
His advice: “If you keep hearing about a certain product or certain practice the neighbors are using that’s increasing their yields, investigate it,” he says.
