According to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report issued on Sept. 5, 52 percent of Michigan’s corn and 46 percent of Michigan’s soybeans are rated in good-to-excellent condition, which aren’t strong numbers heading into harvest.
“The bean fields in our area are just starting to turn, so I anticipate some beans to be taken off by month end,” according to Stacey Hughes, the owner of Hughes Seed Solutions based out of Jackson County, Michigan. The company is also a Specialty Hybrids dealer.
Hughes says Michigan’s soybeans have been impacted by a number of different factors this growing season, including heat stress, drought stress, weed pressure, and disease pressure.
“Overall, soybeans haven’t seemed to recover right now quite like corn has from the early season stress,” says Hughes. “It seemed as though, for over a month, it was though beans were stuck. Now, if the fields aren’t completely damaged by deer, many in our area are infected with white mold, sudden death syndrome, and brown stem rot.
“If growers aren’t seeing sudden death syndrome for the first time, I do encourage them to take some soil samples after harvest and check for soybeans nematode as there is a correlation between those two diseases,” says Hughes.
The update is sponsored by Specialty Hybrids. At Specialty Hybrids, it’s your field, our Specialty. Find your local field sales representative and dealer online at www.specialtyhybrids.com.
