Slow bean start makes more weeds

Bean Rows Not Grown Shut

The slow start to the soybean crop has resulted in the rows not yet growing shut, thus leaving the ground exposed to sunlight which enables weed germination. Some chemical weed controls have needed repeat applications. If the operator used the label-recommended dilution strength in the first application, there may be some help from the herbicide manufacturer on the cost of the later chemical applications.

Trent Brandenburg is still happy with the progress of this year’s crops. There is ample soil moisture for corn pollination; the silks are waiting for the pollen from the tassels. The ponded areas are still ponded in some places. The recent weekend rainfalls varied from three-tenths to over three inches on the various fields. Most of the ponded areas are not accessible from the road, so the farm operator must decide if the damage to non-ponded plants between the road and the ponded area is worth doing, in order to replant the ponded area. As the season progresses, it usually isn’t. There was some wind damage at the edges of some corn fields last weekend; the two or three that got flattened were fortunately not Trent’s.