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Agronomist says Indiana soybean crop is better than expected

An extension agronomist says despite a challenging start to the growing season the Indiana soybean crop looks better than expected.

But, Purdue University’s Shaun Casteel says the crop needs good weather over the next 30-45 days.

He says the cooler than normal forecast for August is concerning.

“If we get down into 50s at night several nights in a row we really start to shortchange our photosynthetic capacity and the way we rebound from that so that’s my one worry,” he says. “To finish strong is to continue with the good sunlight, good temperatures, and hopefully keep that fall freeze well, well away.”

He tells Brownfield although he has seen Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) on some early planted soybeans, there hasn’t been a lot of disease and insect pressure this year.

“We have a little bit of Septoria brown spot down in the canopy- it’s nothing really to worry about and some Frog Eye Leaf Spot may be popping a little bit but nothing of super high levels,” he says.

The USDA’s August soybean production estimate has yields at 55 bushels per acre and Casteel says those are higher than he anticipated.

Audio: Shaun Casteel, Purdue Extension Agronomist

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