Planning on planting soybeans early this season?

Planting soybeans earlier can help achieve higher yield by producing a more developed crop canopy during the longest days of summer, which in turn can drive more photosynthates toward higher yield. However, early-planted soybeans often require more diligent management. Being the first soybeans out of the ground is a surefire way to attract the first bean leaf beetles of the season.

📸: BASF employee, Katie Strathman/Featuring soybeans emerging in a field.

While we usually see bean leaf beetles late in the season during pod fill, the bean leaf beetles of late summer are actually the second and third adult groups of the season. Bean leaf beetles are capable of overwintering in field debris or field-side vegetation. Temperatures of 50–55 ºF draw them from their dormant state. These overwintered beetles feed and lay eggs that will eventually produce the late-summer bean leaf beetles we combat during soybean reproductive stages.

📸: BASF employee, Katie Strathman/Featuring a bean leaf beetle (circled) on a young soybean cotyledon.

Thankfully, using Poncho^® Votivo^® Precise Seed Treatment can protect early-planted soybean seedlings from feeding insects like bean leaf beetle and help realize more complete yield potential. Poncho^® Votivo^® Precise Seed Treatment provides immediate insect efficacy with systemic activity to protect the growing soybean both above and below ground.

📸: BASF internal graphic/Illustrating the yield advantages of Poncho^® Votivo ^® Precise Seed Treatment vs. competitor treatment by planting date.

If you’re planning on planting soybeans earlier this season, plan on treating them with Poncho® Votivo® Precise Seed Treatment to protect them from bean leaf beetles and other early season pests that are out to steal from your yield!

📸: BASF internal graphic/Illustrating performance of Poncho^® Votivo ^® Precise Seed Treatment on various pest species versus competitors.

Always read and follow label directions. Grow Smart, ILEVO, Poncho, and Votivo are registered trademarks of BASF. Gaucho is a registered trademark of Bayer. Cruiser is a registered trademark of Syngenta. Copyright 2024 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.