Early planting key to high soybean yields in MO

By Blake Jackson

Early planting is key to maximizing soybean yields in Missouri. The warmer weather suggests an earlier start to the 2024 growing season, making planting decisions crucial for farmers. Planting date, variety selection, and plant population all significantly impact yield potential.

University research trials offer valuable insights into variety performance, but these results may not translate perfectly to real-world conditions with varying planting dates and weather patterns. However, trends do emerge when analyzing data across different regions.

Later planting dates consistently show a decrease in yield potential across all regions of Missouri. This penalty is most severe in the Southeast, followed by the North and Central regions. Interestingly, the Southwest region doesn't exhibit the same trend, possibly due to lower overall yields in earlier planting months.

While later planting reduces yield potential, high yields can still be achieved in April and early May with the right combination of factors. Variety selection, management practices, and weather all play a role alongside planting date. Conversely, there are very few instances of high yields from mid-May to June plantings, except in the Southwest.

The ideal maturity group (MG) for soybeans can also be influenced by planting date. While a clear relationship between MG and planting date isn't always easy to establish, some regional trends exist. Southern regions tend to favor later MGs, while Central and North regions lean towards earlier MGs. However, these are just tendencies, and the optimal MG may vary depending on specific conditions.

To address this complexity, researchers are initiating new trials to optimize MG, planting date, and plant population across Missouri. In the meantime, some tentative recommendations can be made based on existing data.

For instance, in wet years, early April plantings might benefit from early MG varieties in most counties, except for the bootheel region where later MGs might perform better. As planting progresses into May and June, most of the state should shift towards intermediate MGs. It's important to remember that MG classifications can be relative – an early MG in the South might be considered intermediate in the North.

Dry years might call for a different approach. Here, the recommendation leans towards intermediate MGs in the North and early MGs elsewhere for April plantings. This strategy might help mitigate drought risks by adjusting seed filling to avoid the hot and dry periods later in the season.

Planting early, selecting the appropriate variety for your region, and considering the impact of weather patterns are all important factors for Missouri soybean farmers aiming to maximize their yields. With ongoing research, a clearer understanding of the complex interplay between planting date, maturity group, and plant population will be developed to further support soybean farming success.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-gilaxia