What's Going On With Soybean Emergence This Spring?
This spring, we’ve noticed quite a few soybean fields taking their sweet time to emerge—some even stretching out to three weeks. As most of you know, those first few weeks after seeding are crucial for soybeans. They need warmth and moisture to get up and going, and unfortunately, the cool, wet weather we had right after most soybeans were seeded wasn’t exactly ideal. That’s left us with slow emergence and, in a lot of cases, pretty uneven stands.
We’ve seen everything from plants fully at the unifoliate stage sitting right beside seeds that are just cracking through the soil. Not exactly the even emergence we aim for. So what’s causing it? Well, this year Mother Nature threw a few curveballs our way.
Cool, Wet Conditions
Most soybean fields around here were seeded just before that big rain and drop in temperatures in mid-May. That meant those beans were sitting in cold, wet soils right when they were trying to germinate. Soybeans don’t love that. They want warmer soil to really take off, and when it’s cool and saturated, germination slows down and emergence gets stretched out.
Rolling When Soil is Soft
We also saw some growers get out to roll their soybeans when the soil was still soft. That moisture made it easier for rollers to push seeds deeper into the ground, especially if they were already seeded on the deep side. A seed pushed an extra half-inch down might not seem like a big deal, but in these cooler conditions, that extra depth can be the difference between emerging on time or getting stuck.
Less Sunlight From Smoke
On top of everything else, we had some smoke blow in during seeding. That limited direct sunlight, which soybeans really depend on. They need about 6–8 hours of sunlight a day for good early growth, and when smoke blocks that out, it can slow emergence and worsen the unevenness we’re seeing.
What You Can Do
If your field looks uneven, it’s a good idea to get out and take a look at your stand. A hula hoop or a tape measure can help you get a sense of plant population. Pick a few average spots across the field, count what’s up, and don’t forget to dig around a bit. Some seeds may be just a ¼ inch from the surface and about to pop.
The good news is that soybeans are pretty good at evening out over the season. A plant that emerges three weeks later might only be a week behind in terms of maturity come harvest. So in most cases, you won’t need to harvest in two passes—you can still take it all off together.
Keep an Eye on Weeds
One thing to watch closely in these fields is weed pressure. Where emergence is thin, weeds have less competition and tend to get ahead. In these cases, it's best to time your herbicide based on weed stage rather than crop stage. Ideally, you want to wait until most of your soybeans are at the full trifoliate stage before spraying, but if the weeds are growing fast, go by their stage instead.
Final Thoughts
Uneven emergence can be frustrating, but it’s not the end of the world. These fields can still turn out just fine with the right management. If you’re unsure about your stand or have questions about what you’re seeing, give your sales agronomist a call—we’re here to help.
~Annabelle Calcott, DSAG
Check out our YouTube video below for more information.