Soybeans

We have friends in Webster and Calhoun Counties in Iowa who also raise soybeans. They grow them a little differently than we do. They raise them in 30 inch rows just like their corn. They have a big problem with white mold or schlerotinia white mold as I call it but I wonder if they couldn't narrow down their rows and just cut the population for more light interception.

They also use a stalk plucker which is a tool that pinches the corn stalk row off just below the top of the ground to increase stalk rotting and digestion back into the soil. That's an extra pass that I am not sure would pay.

But they are very good farmers and average 58 bushel soybeans, way more than their county state or national averages. I am always looking for a way to increase yields while holding costs in line for more net profit.

But they have soils I can only dream of, 4-6% organic matter and you can see 14 miles from their front porch. There are 3 ethanol plants in thier view so I imagine they couldjustify corn on corn. Like me, they like to grow soybeans.

They said their moisture got down to 9% today and I like to cut at 13%, the point where the buyer doesn't dock for moisture. To do that, I have to cut a lot of acres above 13% because they dry down so quickly below 15% moisture.

Our first fields will be ready before too long and thankfully we have a streak of good weather coming after weeks of clouds and showers.

Iowa will be well on their way to finishing before we get started.

Ed