• University research studies have supported early soybean planting; however, there are risks associated
with early planting.
• Risk mitigation includes soybean product selection, a weed-free field, seed treatment considerations,
adequate stand establishment, and other agronomic considerations.
• Consider using seed treated with an insecticide for bean leaf beetle (BLB) protection and with fungicides to
protect seedlings from soil-borne pathogens.
Planting soybeans early can help maximize yield potential, despite cold soil temperatures and slow seedling
growth. Although the ideal soil temperature for rapid soybean germination and emergence is between 77°
and 86°F, soybean seeds can germinate when the soil temperature is about 50°F. However, at cooler soil
temperatures, soybean emergence may take as long as two to three weeks.
When planting early, it is important to mitigate risk and plant into good soil and well-conditioned seedbeds.
Planting when soil is too wet can result in soil compaction, poor seed placement, and poor stand
establishment. Excessive tillage or heavy precipitation soon after planting can result in soil crusting, which can
limit emergence. Planting into wet soils may negate any yield potential advantage of planting early.
Early Planting Date University Research Studies
• Data collected from the Michigan Soybean Yield Contest showed that the average planting date for
high-yield producers was May 4, 13 days earlier than the low-yield producers.1 In addition, the high-yield
producers averaged 10 more pods per plant than the low-yield groups, due to plants developing more
nodes on the main stem.
• In Nebraska, studies showed average yield losses of 0.25 bu/acre in poor growing conditions and losses
of 0.6 bu/acre under good growing conditions for each day soybean planting was delayed after May 1.
• Iowa State University found that most farmers can increase yield by 3 to 4 bu/acre by planting soybean
beginning April 25th in southern regions and May 1st in northern regions of Iowa.
• Minnesota trial results indicated that maximum soybean yield was obtained when the planting date
occurred between May 1 through 15.
• North Dakota research showed that late plantings resulted in lower soybean yields, seed quality, and
seed oil content, as well as shorter plants. In addition, seeds were set lower to the ground in late plantings
compared to those planted on the optimum planting date, which was no sooner than five days before the
average last killing frost in the spring.
• A research trial in Illinois found that soybean yields were higher when seeds were planted between late
April and early May, due to more pods per unit area.
Benefits of Planting Soybean Seed Early
A larger canopy, earlier in the growing season can help conserve soil moisture during the reproductive
periods. The absorption of solar radiation can be increased leading to higher rates of photosynthesis.
Canopy closure helps reduce weed competition early in the season and may prevent later emerging weeds
from becoming a problem.
A longer growing season at the reproductive growth stages can increase the number of nodes on the main
stem, leading to more flowers, pods, and seeds. Depending on conditions, flowering and harvesting may be
earlier.
Managing Risks Associated with Planting Soybean Seed Early
Stand establishment. Heavy crop residue can prevent soil warming. Tillage may be necessary to reduce
residue, but only when soils are dry enough to minimize soil compaction. Adequate soil drainage can help
promote root development. Maintain adequate fertility and calibrate planting equipment for accurate planting
depth and seeding rate. Always refer to the manufacturer’s
manual before performing any maintenance.
Early frost damage. Imbibitional chilling and frost damage can
occur with extended cool and wet soil conditions. Avoid planting
into wet soils, and plant into a well-prepared seedbed.
Early season pests. Cold soil temperatures can slow root
development, making soybean stands more susceptible to
overwintering bean leaf beetles (BLB) (Figure 1) and root-rotting seedling pathogens such as Phytophthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium.
Insecticide seed treatments can help provide protection against
BLB. Monitor fields regularly for damage due to BLB. In addition
to germplasm selection and good soil drainage, most fungicide seed treatments can help provide protection
against diseases. Continue to scout fields for diseases such as frogeye leaf spot and white mold (Figure 2).
larger canopy earlier in the season can provide a favorable environment for diseases.
Sudden death Syndrome (SDS) is a disease associated with cool and saturated soil conditions, which are
common in an early growing season. Selecting a soybean product with SDS tolerance may help reduce the
risk of SDS infection early in the season and development later in the season (Figure 3). Soybean products that
are resistant to soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) (Figure 4) can also help, since the presence of SCN has been
associated with increased SDS incidence.
Summary
Soybean yield potential is often affected by planting date. University research results have shown that early
planting can help maximize soybean yield potential. The potential yield benefits can be achieved by managing
risks to early planting with improved technologies and tools.
Sources
1 Staton, M. 2011. Planting soybeans early offers many benefits. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/planting_soybeans_early_offers_many_benefits.
2 Licht, M. A., D. Wright, and A. W. Lenssen. 2013. Planting soybean for high yield in Iowa. Agriculture and Environment Extension Publications. 193. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_ag_pubs/193.
3 Naeve, S. L. 2018. When and how to plant soybean. University of Minnesota. https://extension.umn.edu/soybean-planting/when-and-how-plant-soybean#:~:text=The%20standard%20University%20of%20Minnesota,their%20maturities%
20until%20late%2DJune.
4 Kandel, H. and G. Endres. 2019. Soybean production field guide for North Dakota. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/soybean-production-field-guide-for-north-dakota#section-12.
5 Roozeboom, K. 2012. Soybean planting dates: Is earlier a good Idea? AG Professional. https://www.agprofessional.com/article/soybean-planting-dates-earlier-good-idea.
6 Pocock, J. 2010. 7 ways to attain ultra-high soybean yields. FarmProgress. https://www.farmprogress.com/soybeans/7-ways-attain-ultra-high-soybean-yields.
7 Specht, J. 2010. Three reasons why soybean planting date matters. CropWatch. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. https://cropwatch.unl.edu/why-soybean-planting-date-matters.
8 Nafziger, E. 2020. Planting corn and soybeans in 2020. Farmdoc daily 10:67, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2020/04/planting-cornand-
soybeans-in-2020.html.
Web sources verified 10/14/20.
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