Early Soybean Planting Checklist

Planting Date

Planting date is one of the most critical factors in maximizing soybean yield potential. Every day planting is delayed, yield potential is reduced: after April 25, by –0.5 bu/ac per day; after May 10, by –0.3 bu/ac per day; and after May 25, by –0.7 bu/ac per day. Chart 1 compiles data for the most recent 7 years (2016 - 2022.)

Planting Conditions

Check for suitable field conditions and soil moisture. Avoid planting if a cold rain is predicted within 24 hours to

reduce risk of imbibitional chilling injury. No-till fields are good choices, while fall-tilled fields are best for early planting because they warm up faster and provide a more uniform seedbed. 

Variety Selection

Planting early allows the soybean plant to get to R1 sooner, allowing it to spend more time in R2, thus increasing the number of nodes, and potential pods, both resulting in increased yield potential. To fully capture the potential of the longer growing season early planting provides, plant a full maturity bean for your area. Also select a variety with strong tolerance to early season seedling diseases, sudden death syndrome, and strong early season emergence/vigor scores. 

Seed Treatment

Early planted soybeans are at a higher risk for Pythium, which commonly occurs when soil temperatures are between 50-60°F. Fungicidal seed treatment is key to prevention. Also, consider protecting against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) with ILEVO®. Although SDS is not observed until later in the season, infection occurs early and is especially common in cool and wet conditions. Early planted beans are also at a higher risk of bean leaf beetle damage, so an insecticidal treatment is recommended. 

High Quality Seed

Ensure the seed has undergone quality testing for germination under stressful conditions, such as a cold test or Accelerated Aging Test (also called a vigor test). 

Planting Depth and Population

Planting too shallow is especially harmful with early-planted fields. Aim for 1 1/2" to 1 3/4” planting depth. Also check for adequate furrow row closure. In general, target a seeding rate between 120-150K seeds per acre depending upon variety & soil type.

Residual Weed Control Program

Utilize a robust weed control program with multiple modes of action and layered residuals to control weeds like Zidua Pro, Zidua SC, Outlook, Liberty, or Engenia (in XF soybeans).