While research shows fungicide applications in wheat and corn can often be justified by higher yields, the yield response to fungicides in soybeans is not as clear cut. Timing of fungicide application might be part of the formula for getting better than break-even returns, says Dave Hooker, field crop agronomist and assistant professor at the University of… Read More
Category: Soybean Disease, Weeds & Insects
It’s a disease that affects a number of significant crops in Canada, including vegetables, pulses, canola and even some forage species. And last year, some farmers saw particularly high levels of white mould in soybean crops across Ontario. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, or white mold, makes its mark on plants in lesions that appear water-soaked; white, fluffy mycelium;… Read More
Start clean, stay clean is a smart motto when it comes to corn and soybean fields, but what’s the right amount of “clean” in relation to weed cover and yield potential? Dr. Peter Sikkema, professor of plant science with the University of Guelph — Ridgetown Campus, took to the field to answer that question. If,… Read More
Manitoba farmers whose soil test results say they have soybean cyst nematode in their soil may want to get a second opinion, says a soil ecologist from the University of Manitoba. While the number of soybean acres has exploded on the eastern side of the Prairies over the last few years, Western Canadian growers have… Read More
White mould love tight soybean rotations. What’s the best plan of attack for 2015? A good chunk of wheat acres didn’t get planted in the fall of 2014, during what some have dubbed a “harvest from hell.” Many of those acres are likely to go into soybeans, and for good reason. But, agronomically, it’s not… Read More
This year’s growing season is not likely to be forgotten for a very long time — and, unfortunately, not for great reasons. A late, wet, tough spring, widespread white mould in the beans and down-right cold break in the summer all cumulated in a long, drawn out harvest that’s headed into the holiday season for… Read More
A cool, wet summer has left many Ontario soybean fields with some level of white mould infection. The fuzzy white stem rot could be seen in patches across many fields by late summer, sometimes causing large areas of loss in a field. A key element of controlling or avoiding this disease is understanding how it… Read More
If soybean yield is made in August, what, if anything can farmers do to achieve those big yields? It starts with scouting, and leads to planning ahead, says Shawn Brenneman, with Syngenta. In this Soybean School episode, Bernard Tobin joins Brenneman in the field to talk weed escapes, the possibility of a pre-harvest application to… Read More
Ever wonder how soybean crosses are made? How long it takes for a new soybean variety to go from pod to variety? Each crop type requires unique field work to come up with new and exciting lines that balance higher yield potential with the strong agronomic traits farmers are looking for. In this Soybean School… Read More
Soybean growers in Manitoba are — so far — rather lucky. While there are diseases in the province that infect soybeans, like downy mildew, white mold (sclerotinia) and brown spot, overall pressure is relatively low. That will change over time, however, as Vikram Bisht, plant pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, points out,… Read More
OMAFRA Weed Management Lead Mike Cowbrough has been getting lots of calls from growers this year looking for tips on how to control tufted vetch in soybeans. The perennial legume is tough to control in an annual legume crop like soybeans, and there’s virtually no way to control it once the crop is out of… Read More
Chlorosis, or yellowing of leaf tissue in plants, can be an indicator of a great number of issues from nutrient deficient soils to poor root systems or saturated soils. Manitoba farmers especially are dealing with excess moisture this year, even outside of the flood zones along the Assiniboine River, and while soybeans do take standing… Read More
OK, you missed your window for that all important pre-seed burn. Things may have been a little soggy, you may have been a little busy…whatever the reason. The good news is you’ve still got a shot to get those beans poking up in a clean environment. It’s crunch-time though, so in this episode of the… Read More
What’s the toughest part of trying out a new crop? Once you get the equipment set up sorted out at seeding and harvest, it’s on to crop diagnostics. Mother Nature tends to give farmers a bit of a break when it comes to disease and insect pressure in the first years of growing a crop,… Read More
Soybeans are a relatively new crop for many farmers in Western Canada. For many farmers, this brings a second RoundUp Ready crop (or possibly third) into rotation. Because of this, controlling volunteer canola ahead of the soybean crop is crucial, as high canola populations can have a significant yield impact, and more costly, as a… Read More