Soybean Growers Face Harvest, Water, Weed Challenges

Soybean growers face varied challenges: one home gardener reported a poor harvest after purchased seed mostly failed to germinate, though nearly all harvested seeds sprouted in a test, while wet late-season weather has damaged the quality of some mature Midwest crops. Earlier soybean planting may also shift the timing of waterhemp control, adding another consideration to weed management. In Kansas, a proposed renewal of a conservation program would reduce some northwest farmers’ water allocations by 15%, prompting concerns about crop production and land values even as farmers acknowledge the need to conserve aquifers. A South Dakota drainage-recycling proposal would capture water from field tile systems in ponds or wetlands for later irrigation, potentially reducing groundwater use, flooding and chemical runoff while supporting yields during drought.