Published in the South Dakota Soybean Leader – Winter 2020
Most farmers are eager to put a very challenging 2019 growing season in the rearview mirror. Extremely wet conditions throughout much of the growing season delivered nearly unprecedented challenges for Midwest farmers, especially those in South Dakota.
The best way to move on from a difficult past is to look forward to a brighter future. While there are no guarantees for 2020, proper planning now can make a big impact on crop performance and yield in the year ahead.
Dale Nelson, Production Manager for Mustang Seeds’ Row Crop Division, says in addition to soil fertility and weed management plans, “choosing the correct seed for the field is the start to potentially a good year.”
Nelson says that farmers have many traited and non-traited soybean varieties available for 2020. Mustang Seeds offers a full range of options that have been developed to meet the needs of South Dakota soybean farmers.
“Mustang Seeds is a family owned company offering many choices in soybean selections,” Nelson says. “The two most recent choices for 2020 planting are the Liberty Link GT27™ and the Enlist E3™ soybeans. Also in Mustangs offering are Roundup Ready XTend®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield® and conventional soybeans.”
Another new and exciting soybean trait will be the XtendFlex® soybeans with a 4-way trait stack, giving farmers options for herbicide choices. “We anticipate seed production planting in the spring of 2020,” Nelson says.
Choosing the right traits is important, but a variety of other agronomic considerations should weigh into a growers’ decision on what seed varieties to plant. Nelson says among the factors farmers need to consider are their farms’ problematic weeds and the best herbicide control for that field. Solid agronomics are also a consideration in soybean selection including row spacing, field disease history, white mold possibilities, soil pH, weed spectrum and soil texture.
“White mold was a widespread factor in 2019 with all the excess moisture in the fields,” Nelson adds.
Because 2019 ended on a wet note for many South Dakota farmers, it’s likely 2020 will start off wet, as well.
In addition to white mold, farmers may need to use seed options to manage crop stressors like Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) and Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN).
“IDC is always a factor on fields with soil pH levels of 7.8 above, along with environmental conditions able to place additional stress to young soybeans plants. SCN is another stress factor on the soybean plant during its reproductive stage,” Nelson explains.
Soybeans carry white mold and IDC tolerance ratings to help farmers narrow their variety choice. Nelson says soybeans will vary some year to year depending on the environmental. SCN soybeans have a resistance rating as susceptible or resistant. Cyst counts in many areas are rising due to increased tolerance of the PI88.788 gene. Farmers can choose other options including seeds with the Peking genetic resistance, or growers can include a seed treatment for SCN defense.
Whatever the farmer needs, Nelson says Mustang Seeds offers growers a range of viable options.
Mustang Seeds has plot and product guide information available at www.mustangseeds.com. The website also includes contact information for local district sales managers who will work with growers and help them locate a Mustang Seeds dealer to service farmer needs.