If the low temperatures materialize this weekend as predicted, there will be some serious reduction in yield in a large percentage of the soybeans in the county. Due to a late planting season and the unusual low temperatures throughout the summer, the beans have been very slow to develop and mature. Some of the beans probably would not be totally safe from a freeze for several more weeks. So the potential for frost or even a freeze this weekend is a big deal to most farmers in the area.
In spite of all the setbacks that have occurred, the bean crop looks very good. In most fields that I have looked at in recent days, the beans look very good with lots of pods filled with well developed beans. The beans have fully expanded in many fields but some of the latest beans are still trying to fill pods and this has been a slow process because of the shorter daylight hours and unusually cool days. Those beans that are fully expanded still need time to mature properly. The beans that are still expanding will need even more time to reach their maximum yield potential. A freeze will certainly significantly reduce yields on beans that are still not beginning to shed leaves. As we know, sometimes the weather man is wrong, so let’s hope this is one of those times.
So where does this put us with the soybean rust? Certainly, if the freeze does occur, the rust won’t be near as high on our list of priorities as it would have been. Right now, it appears that the freeze might get there first and if it does, I don’t think there would be much reason to spray after that. On the other hand, if the weatherman is wrong, then the rust should still be on our radar but, in my mind, the threat is beginning to fade. It seems unlikely that the disease could develop fast enough, this late to cause serious yield loss.
Having said that, don’t forget about it, but, as I said last week, don’t lose any sleep over soybean rust.
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If the low temperatures materialize this weekend as predicted, there will be some serious reduction in yield in a large percentage of the soybeans in the county. Due to a late planting season and the unusual low temperatures throughout the summer, the beans have been very slow to develop and mature. Some of the beans probably would not be totally safe from a freeze for several more weeks. So the potential for frost or even a freeze this weekend is a big deal to most farmers in the area.
In spite of all the setbacks that have occurred, the bean crop looks very good. In most fields that I have looked at in recent days, the beans look very good with lots of pods filled with well developed beans. The beans have fully expanded in many fields but some of the latest beans are still trying to fill pods and this has been a slow process because of the shorter daylight hours and unusually cool days. Those beans that are fully expanded still need time to mature properly. The beans that are still expanding will need even more time to reach their maximum yield potential. A freeze will certainly significantly reduce yields on beans that are still not beginning to shed leaves. As we know, sometimes the weather man is wrong, so let’s hope this is one of those times.
So where does this put us with the soybean rust? Certainly, if the freeze does occur, the rust won’t be near as high on our list of priorities as it would have been. Right now, it appears that the freeze might get there first and if it does, I don’t think there would be much reason to spray after that. On the other hand, if the weatherman is wrong, then the rust should still be on our radar but, in my mind, the threat is beginning to fade. It seems unlikely that the disease could develop fast enough, this late to cause serious yield loss.
Having said that, don’t forget about it, but, as I said last week, don’t lose any sleep over soybean rust.
