160.6 bu/ac... soybeans. They fix N too!

[mbratrud]

We grew some soybeans here at Weyburn and they ran about 42 bpa this should net us about $160 per acre. We did a bit of a trial with heavier seeding rates and saw a significant response in yield and maturity. We used a Macdon D60 header to straight cut and once we got the tilt right we were leaving no more than 5%. We also ignored the recommendation not to use any N and applied about 20 pounds that likely helped maturity as well.

We will certainly grow them again we want to use them to get rid of more cereal acres. (down to 9% of our farm that needs to be Marketed through CWB this year).

Questions for experienced Soybean growers: What is the moisture like the following year on Soybean stubble vs other stubbles? What is the best fallow crop? Is there anyone growing Canola on Soybean stubble?

[RedRiverMB]

Canola on Soybean is fine, you will find very high N
after soybean crop usually.

[RedRiverMB]

The most important thing to do when growing
soybeans is to plant them into warm soil. 17c or
higher, the first 24 hrs are the most important, you
can have a cold spell after and still be fine. the seed
needs that initial exposure in warm wet soil.

[Francksaskfarmer]

I have grown soybeans on a small scale in 4 different years and have not been very successful yet or not enough to consider them as a viable option. There are 2 things I think I could do to give them a better chance and they tend to go against our zero till system.
1 I think the soil needs to be black to warm up quickly any time there is sun.
2 our zerotill seeders make too much of an indent and it is hard to roll the field and make a very flat surface in order to get the lowest pods.
So if you are ready to cultivate your land in the fall and maybe do some harrow packing and rolling after seeding then I think you have a better chance but then you cannot have too dry of a year.
These are just gut feels that I have but at this point I think they are still a bit iffy.