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A stunted soybean crop in 2019

An extension crops educator says soybeans planted late will be shorter and struggle to achieve canopy closure.

Dave Nicolai with the University of Minnesota says in many places the crop is hitting the critical blooming phase.

“They’ll put on more height, but I think in a lot of cases, less canopy cover (and) shorter soybeans. Rainfall will be the big determinant, depending on how much rain we get in the month of August.”

He tells Brownfield open canopies lead to increased weed pressure.

“I think growers are trying to get after that. If they couldn’t spray them on time, maybe cultivation. I did see a little more use of the cultivator. Economics always factor into that as well.”

Nicolai is seeing common broadleaf weed pressure and says in Minnesota giant ragweed has hung on later than normal.