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August is the month for soybeans

 

A Purdue Extension soybean specialist says there is hope for the soybean crop.

Shaun Casteel says the growing season didn’t get off to a great start – but growing conditions have improved.  “Now we get to the point that beans are starting to dry out and they have good nitrogen supply from the nodules,” he says.  “We’re at the point in August where the next 30-45 days here are going to make or break soybeans.  Most of us have been in this industry long enough to know August is the bean month.”

He tells Brownfield at this point – soybeans need nice, gentle rains to finish out the crop.  “We have shallow rooted soybeans,” he says.  “And we have limited pod set – so we really need to really maintain those pods and fill them out completely.  Nice timely rains and warm temperatures are going to be the combination we need.”

Casteel says the cool, wet start to the growing season opened the door for soybean diseases like Sudden Death Syndrome.  “The infection has certainly happened and now it’s a matter of is it going to turn off dry,” he says.  “And then the foliar symptoms will start expressing itself.  That’s one that will start expressing itself and has.”

He says soybean growers are hoping for a warm September and October to help the crop finish strong.