Soybean production in Saskatchewan

Can soybeans be grown in Saskatchewan? Yes, advances in earlier maturing varietiesand better weed control have made them a viable crop in Saskatchewan. The prov-ince is a huge area with great variation in growing conditions so the question is bestanswered for individual farms or at least smaller areas.

Corn Heat Units are the best measure we have at this time, but they are not the onlyfactor that affects soybean maturity.

(map on next page)

Soybeans are a light sensitive crop and the amount of daylight impacts their maturity.In Manitoba trials a variety that was the top yielder in on trial was the lowest at an-other site where daylight was a factor.

Varieties react differently to different conditions, so it is important to have data fromyour area and to gain the experience yourself.

Soybeans may mature in your area but are they economically viable? MAFRI cropproduction budgets indicate that soybeans have input costs of approximately $40 anacre less than wheat. Manitoba budgets are slightly higher cost that Saskatchewan.

Thunder Seed has prepared a check list and production guide for Soybean produc-tion. The inclusion of their material is not an endorsement of their seed in any way,but they do have experience with the crop and have provided a useful guide for firsttime growers. I thank them for allowing me to include it in this material.

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Table of Contents

Quarry Seed Introduction Pg 2

Picking your variety

CHU Pg 3

CHU

Crop Rotation

Seeding Hints Pg 4

Seeding Date & Rate Pg 5

Seeding Date & Rate

Inoculants & Seed Treatments Pg 6

Inoculants & Seed Treatments

Pesticides, Herbicides, Aphids Pg 7

Pesticides, Herbicides, Aphids

White Mold Pg 8

White Mold

Phytophthora Pg 9

Phytophthora

Iron Chlorosis Pg 10

Iron Chlorosis

Harvest & Storage Pg 11

Harvest & Storage

Monsanto Technology Fee Pg 12

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CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR OF THUNDER SEED SOYBEANS

Box 1840

Stonewall, MB R0C 2Z0

Toll Free 1-888-274-9243

www.quarryseed.com

Quarry Seed Staff

Ron Gendzelevich – President / Agronomy / Sales

Shawn Rempel – Seed Production / Agronomy / Sales

Vincente Panaon – Accounting

Rebecca Moodie – Office Admin / Advertising / Promotion

Kevin Elmy – Saskatchewan Representative

Why Grow a Thunder Seed Roundup Ready 2 Soybean?

Quality Seed

Thunder Seed soybeans are engineered to deliver consistently higher yields, through

superior genetics and industry leading traits. Many factors can impact the season and

your best defense against those factors and a successful harvest is choosing a

Thunder Seed variety.

Quality Agronomics Every year Quarry Seed brings you new or improved agronomics which is show cased at

our Valley Soybean Expo.

Quality Service Quarry Seed and all of our Dealers feel it is our responsibility to help our customers to

grow the best variety for their area and offer agronomic advice. We assist from the time

the seed is purchased until it is in the bin.

Quality Yield Every decision Thunder Seed makes is with a single idea in mind.

Maximizing producers profit by maximizing producers yield.

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Soybean Production Guide

Picking your Variety

- Experience Level: If you are new to growing soybeans.

• Try a variety that is earlier in maturity.

• Plant in higher population (200-220,000) to encourage the bean to pod

higher off the ground.

• Row crop can be 160,000 to 180,000.

- Risk Management

• Select a variety appropriate for the grower’s area.

• The earlier the variety is, the lower the yield potential (yield drops 5-7%

for each CHU).

- Equipment

• Equipment specialized for harvesting soybeans will allow no restrictions

in the varieties you choose.

• Rigid Header: we suggest you increase your planting rate and possibly

adjust your seeding date slightly earlier. Pick a variety that will pod higher

off the ground to enable you to capture as many beans as possible when

harvesting.

What CHU Area am I in?

With the new varieties of Roundup Ready 2 ® that have been developed you are no

longer restricted to choosing a variety based on CHU ratings only. However it is a good

indication of where to start.

- Soil Types

• Heavy clays usually have a higher calcium carbonate and poor internal

drainage. Our suggestion: a defensive Iron Chlorosis bean.

• Sandier soils are the contrary to the previous.

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- Drainage

• Poorly drained fields can put more stress on the plant. Once again choose a

defensive Iron Chlorosis bean.

- Soil Conditions

• We strongly suggest soil testing for calcium carbonates and salt levels. This

assists in the importance of selections of a variety dependent on IDC scoring.

• Soil test do not have to be done every year.

Investigate crop rotation

- Know the history of the field

• As a part of your crop rotation soybeans will introduce small amounts of

nitrogen into the soil thus a small reduction in fertilizer costs. Overall

soybeans are excellent rotational crops but can carry some diseases.

• Soybeans are marginally susceptible to sclerotinia (white mold) in years with conditions of high moisture and high seeding rates. If soybeans are intended to

be planted in a tight rotation with other pulse crops (such as dry beans, canola,

sunflowers, flax, peas, lentils, alfalfa and buckwheat) choose a variety with an

impressive white mold rating.

• Phytophthora Root Rot can be carried in dry beans and potatoes. Choose a

variety that has a good PRR rating or a 1k gene in its defensive package.

Seeding Hints

- Choose your field using these guidelines:

• Field should be relatively free of stones.

• If stones are present, fields should be harrow packed or rolled.

• Rolling the surface lightly and quickly (8 to 10 mph) to encourage a firmer

more level surface for enhanced harvest ability.

• Soybeans are adaptable to most soils. They can handle moderate drought and

excessive moisture.

• Chemical residue may be a concern if using repetitive applications of Lontrel

and Muster.

• Recently manured, fertilized or soils with very high natural fertilizer can result

in slight yield reductions.

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- Determine seeding date and rate

• Approximate seeding date range from May 10th to May 30

th. As a loose

guideline the latest planting date is June 15th.

• Planting in cool, wet soil (less than 9 seeding degrees Celsius) may result in

low germination, increased incidence of seeding diseases and poor stands.

• When seeding earlier and in cooler soil temperatures treat the soybeans with a

fungicide such as Cruiser Maxx Vibrance.

• Frost tolerance -3 degrees Celsius.

• Seeding rate is 180-240,000 plants per acre for solid seeding. High planting

rates may cause yields to decrease in low rainfall years due to drought stress

lodging may become an issue and be susceptible to sclerotinia in good rainfall

years.

• However a slightly higher planting rate can be an advantage in order to

provide more height from the bottom pod set to the ground. Higher rates may

be required if seed quality is questionable or moisture content is very low.

• Seed depth should be between ¾” to 1 ½”.

• Can be seeded with an air seeder, press drill or row crop planter (with proper

plates). If using row crop planter, use lower seeding rates (160-180,000) and

spacing no greater than 22”.

Seeding rate for soybeans

- Factors influencing seeding rate

• The germination of the seed.

• Seed treated with fungicide or not.

• Soil conditions at the time of seeding.

• Time of seeding (seed heavier if seeding is getting late).

• Seeding equipment: row crop equipment are more precise in placement and

especially spacing of the seed, can reduce seeding rate 10-15%.

• Desired podding / plant height for ease of harvest. Higher seeding rates

elongate the stand ability of a variety.

� Note RR2 varieties are sold at 140,000 kernels / unit

• Cost Comparison: seed treatments VS no seed treatments.

o 5.3 lbs /ac increase or 0.10 unit increase, is approximately $5.00 more

seed expense, but have approximately $10.50/ac less seed treatment.

• General recommendation (based on 95% germination)

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o Seed treated fungicide 200-220,000 seeds / ac. Generally a more even

emergence. The reduced seeding partially offsets the costs of seed

treatment.

o Bare seed (no seed treated fungicides)

220-240,000

Inoculants and Seed Treatments

- Inoculants are a must.

• 50 bu/ac crop of soybeans requires 250 – 300lbs of nitrogen/ac.

• In order to maintain growth and development during flowering granular and

liquid nitrogen inoculants increase plant nodulation and maintain nitrogen

levels through maturity.

• Suggested inoculants depend on your seeding system:

Narrow openers (air drills, minimum till openers, press drill)

Liquid and Granular

Wide seed pattern (air seeder, discer)

Liquid and Peat

• Granular inoculants generally work better and are much more consistent in

their performance. But only work well in very close proximity to the seed. If

you are using a seeding system that does not draw your seed close to the

granular inoculant then a liquid and peat system would be the best way to go.

• Seed treatments widen your seeding season, allow you to seed slightly earlier

due to better seed protection from soil borne diseases. Seed fungicides

enhance maturity also establish a more uniform crop and possibly reducing

your seeding rates due to better emergence. Recommended seed treatments

can suppress early infestations of soybean aphids and other soybean pests.

- Calculation rates

• Granular – Acres * 7.5 -10lbs/ac = Total lbs / 40s - # of bags

• Example: 80 acres * 7.5 = 600lbs / 40 = 15 bags

80 acres * 10 =800lbs / 40 = 20 bags (use 15-20 bags)

- Important Notes

• It is very important that all inoculants and

inoculated seed are stored in a dark cool

environment.

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• Optimize: 30 day inoculant which holds its rhizobia level longer

• Jumpstart: enhances crop maturity when there are low levels of available

phosphate in the soil. Inability to apply fertilizer with seed (example air seeder

with 2 compartments – 1 used for seed and 2nd tank for the granular

inoculant).

• Cruiser Maxx Vibrance: shows definite yield advantage, allows you to seed

earlier and in cooler soils without risking loss to soil born diseases.

During the growing season

- Pesticides

• Cutworms may be the only real concern as a low level cutworm can result in

considerable plant stand reduction. Use normal control methods such as

Lorsban, Decus and Matador.

- Herbicides

• Roundup Ready 2 ® systems are easy to manage during the growing season.

Fields can be sprayed at any time with Roundup ® Glyphosate. Normally

there is no need to go over 1.5L – 2L per acre (normal rates of 1/2L are used

at least 2 times during the season).

- Aphids

• Description: very small but visible, usually yellow to green, immobile or slow

moving.

• Damage: remove plant sap with needle like

sucking mouth parts.

• Sampling: Inspect 20 plants in various areas of a

field and calculate average number of aphids per

plant.

• Economic Threshold: Average >250 aphids per

plant in growth stages R1-R4. If aphids are

increasing beyond 250 per plant in growth stages R5-R6 and plants are under

moisture stress with few predators or diseased aphids present, then controls

should be considered at these later stages.

• Scouting and Threshold: Avoid field edges; a minimum of two field visits are

required to confirm that aphid’s populations are increasing. More aphids per

plant are needed once soybeans are in the R6 stage.

• Suggested Insecticides: Cruiser Maxx Vibrance (early suppression of aphids).

Foliar: Matador.

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• Natural enemies of aphids: lady beetles, minute pirate bug. When soybean

aphid populations are not actively increasing above 250 per plant, this is an

indication that natural enemies are keeping up with aphid population.

• Key soybean growth stages:

o R1: beginning bloom

o R5: beginning pod

o R6: full seed

- White Mold (sclerotinia Stem Rot)

• It can cause major seed yield reductions, when soybeans are planted in

infested soil and there is a dense plant canopy with prolonged periods of wet

weather. Besides seed yield reductions, the disease

also results in reduced seed quality and seed

contaminated with black sclerotinia of fungus over

winters. An inspection under the canopy will reveal a

cottony white mycelia (fungus threads) growth on

stems, leaves or pods. Lesions develop on main stems

and side branches, bleached and sometimes shredded

from advanced decay.

• Symptoms: single plants within a generally healthy

canopy will die rapidly in July and August, black

structures, called sclerotinia also develop inside the stem and can be easily

seen when the stem is split in the bleached area, it is initially soft but harden

with age.

• Management:

o Choose less susceptible cultivars

o Avoid planting on soils heavily infested with sclerotinia

o Maintain open rows so air movement through the crop reduces plant

wetness, wider row spacing is important

o Crop rotation will reduce populations of sclerotinia in soil, but will not

entirely eliminate the pathogen

o Do not plant highly susceptible crops such as dry beans and

sunflowers during rotation

o Avoid harvesting disease infested fields before harvesting healthy

fields unless the combine can be cleaned thoroughly.

o If drainage is a problem, reducing compaction, tilling and ditching will

help remove excessive water from soil, creating a less favorable

environment for pathogen.

• Planting: spacing soybean rows wider apart is

optimal for yield. Wider rows promote a drier

soil surface and lower humidity around the

base of the plants.

• Seeding rates: lower seeding rates can reduce

maturity of the lower canopy, however lower

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seeding rates can increase days to maturity and lower plant height. Using

fungicides like Cruiser Maxx Vibrance allows for lower seeding rate since

more even emergence.

• Tillage: tillage that buries sclerotinia would probably also reduce the number

of spores produced but may result in a greater canopy density compared to no-

till, which may offset the benefit of burying sclerotinia by increasing disease

conduciveness of canopy environment.

• Resistant Soybean Varieties: Partial resistance to white mold has been

identified and seed dealers provide ratings in the resistance levels of these

varieties.

• Chemical and Biological Control: Several fungicides can provide some level

of disease suppression but proper timing and good canopy penetration are

essential.

- Phytophthora

• The pathogen survives primarily as “resting” spores in the soil or in the

association with infested crop debris.

• Symptoms: seed rots, pre and post emergence damping off of seeding. Stem

rot of plants at various growth

stages.

• Found: most common in low lying

areas of field. Poorly drained or

compacted soils. In soils with high

clay content. May also occur on

well drained hillsides during

growing seasons with excessive

moisture availability.

• Phytophthora development: disease

development is most rapid at soil

temperatures of 60 degree F and in

soils with high moisture.

• Races: There are currently 55 races of this pathogen identified.

• Disease management:

o Once established in a field it can not be eradicated. The disease must

be managed. Most effective management practice is using varieties

resistant to Phytophthora. Genetic resistance in the host is expressed in

terms of RPS (Resistance to Phytophthora sojae) gene these genes are

donated as RPS 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1k and 7.

o Cultural practices: crop rotation

o Seed fungicide: Cruiser Maxx Vibrance, Apron Maxx can be

controlled PRR during the early growing season.

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S= susceptible or plant killed

R=resistant or plant not killed

Race 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-k 3 6 7

1 R R R R R R S

3 S R R R R R S

4 S R S R R R S

9 S R R R R S S

14 R R S R R R S

18 R R S R R R R

23 S S R R R S S

25 S S S S R R S

28 S S R S R R S

- Iron Chlorosis

• Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) is most commonly recognized by a yellowing

between the green veins of a plant and obvious stunted growth. It is a

physiological disease and not a fungi, virus or bacteria. It is often anticipated

in years with cooler temperature and

excessive moisture; however the

driving force behind iron chlorosis is

the presence of high salinity and

calcium in the soil.

• Brown and necrotic spots may occur

in leaf margins and plants can be

severally stressed or killed if the

disease is severe. These symptoms

are more prominent when

temperature is low and moisture is high.

• Most common factors:

o Soluble salts

o Carbonates

o Excessive water

o Cool temperature

• Often root rot on iron chlorosis damaged plants is apparent and noted first

during diagnosis. The tap roots have a dark brown reddish brown

discoloration. Different fungi can be isolated from these plants with fusarium

species. In this type of root rot fungal infection is not the primary damaging

factor because soybeans are more vulnerable to fungal infections when plants

are weakened by iron deficiency.

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Picture taken July 25, 2009 in Niverville MB

Harvest and Storage Tips

- Harvest Tips

• Usually happens 10 – 14 days after defoliation

• Late season frost can kill plant thus stop plant from maturing and you are

left with green, moist seed. Once pods have met physiological maturity

they are safe from frost.

• When the first leaf dries down and falls off you have reached 80% of your

yield potential.

• Leaves and leaf stems will dry down and fall off the main plant stem. Pods

will brown and seeds will rattle inside the pod when 100% mature.

• Use of a straight combine with a flex header to give maximum yield

results.

• Some swathers that are able to cut very low to the ground can be used

(such as the MacDon 972).However if you swath be sure to harvest

immediately after it hits the ground to prevent rainfall harm to the swath.

• Remember 4 beans per square foot results in a loss of 1 bushel per acre.

• Moisture should be at 13%.

- Handling and storage tips

• Ideally the seed should be stored at 13% moisture. If the product is too dry it

becomes difficult to handle and splitting may occur, if it is too moist

shrinkage and mold become problems.

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- Monsanto Technology Fee

Corn and Soybean Technology Use Agreement

Through the introduction of the Technology Stewardship Agreement (TSA) in 2008, TSA

licensed growers of corn and soybean seed containing Monsanto technology are not

required to complete an annual TUA. This is exclusive to corn and soybean seed

containing Monsanto technology.

Guide Compiled by:

Quarry Seed Ltd.

1-888-274-9243

View our dealer network online at

www.quarryseed.com

Guide To Growing Soybeans 2013

pQuick Guide to Growing Soybeans

Content

1. Field Selection / Crop Rotation

2. Herbicide Residual problems

3. Variety

4. Inoculants

5. Seed treatments

6. Fertility

7. Seeding date

8. Seeding rate

9. Herbicide program

10. Insects

11. Disease

12. Harvest

13. Storage

14. Marketing

15. Grading

16. Revenue/cost

1. Field Selection / Crop Rotation

a. Not really any restrictions

b. Avoid high trash cover field (i.e. winter wheat)

2. Herbicide residual problems

a. Mostly Lontrel types

b. Minor problems with muster

3. Variety

a. Earlier type and very light sensitive

b. Good germination and vigor

4. Inoculants

a. 30 day liquid on seed

b. 7-12 lbs/ac granular inoculant * use higher rates on virgin or cooler

minimum tillage soils

5. Seed treatments

a. Only Cruiser Maxx Vibrance

6. Fertility

a. *No nitrogen at all

b. 0-40lbs of phosphate depending on seed placement

c. 0-60lbs potash broadcast (usually none is required)

Guide To Growing Soybeans 2013

7. Seeding date

a. Ideal May 10-May 25

b. Possible May 1-June 10

c. Seed when soils are warming up

8. Seeding Rate

a. Solid seeding 200,000-220,000 seeds/ac

b. Row crop 170,000-190,000 seeds/ac

9. Herbicide Program

Roundup

a. Higher rates if needed

b. Anytime up to flowering

Volunteer Canola

c. Cut rate of pursuit

d. Pre emerge burn off

e. Pinnacle

f. Reflex

g. Valtera

h. Basagran

10. Insects

a. Soybean Aphids: up to recent only an occasional problem in Red River

Valley. Easy to kill and rarely a problem in the west.

b. Spider Mites: very rare in the valley

11. Disease

a. Root Bourne: most varieties have reasonable tolerance and Cruiser Maxx

Vibrance and rotation help.

b. Foliar Diseases: most disease result in minor yield loses. Sclerotinia can

cause moderate reduction in yield. Only rotation and new seed treatment

reduces the problem. Also Row crop spacing helps and lighter seeding

rates.

12. Harvest

a. Best Method: straight combining with a flex header

b. Swathing

c. No need to desiccate

d. Dry is 13-13.5% moisture

13. Storage

a. Keeps well especially if sample is clean

b. Tough grain dries down easily with aeration

Guide To Growing Soybeans 2013

14. Marketing

a. Easy and flexible in the Red River Valley

b. Getting a lot better outside the valley

c. Main line grain elevators, smaller grain brokers and small processors

d. Hedging up to 3 years

15. Grading

a. Very easy

b. Much lower chance of downgrades * Cracked kernels are usually not

dockage

c. Lower dockage

16. Revenue / Cost

a. Lower cost/ac than Canola $110-120/ac

b. Revenue depends more on moisture for the area. Yield – Dry conditions

20-25bu/ac Moist conditions 30-55 bu/ac