Soybean Update
It appears this year will be a very bad stink bug year. If you put out an early spray you could help your soybeans and any other crops on your farm. Look closely at your cotton, peanut, and soybean fields; especially if they are close to a harvested corn field. There has likely been several generations of stink bug in your corn already.
Most areas have had some rain, but we need much more. This type of weather brings on plant disease and a tropical storm could bring soybean rust to your fields. My advice is to spray with a good fungicide. One spray per season is usually enough. A good fungicide has proven to give a yield increase of 6-8 bu per acre over non-treated soybeans in a university test. A good fungicide applied at the R1-R3 stage did a very good job last year. ( R-3 =Pods at least 3/16 inch on the fourth node from top of plant ) This usually occurs about 7 to 10 days after full bloom, soybeans planted in Early MAY are now in early R3. You lose some effectiveness if you apply too early. To control velvetbean caterpillar and make loopers and stink bugs less of a pest add Dimlin. If you have stink bugs think about putting in some pesticide. And watch for Kudzu bugs, I have found them in every field.
Good fungicide **
Plus
Dimlin + 1.2 lbs of solubor per acre
in 3-5 gallons/acre by air, 5-10 gallons/acre by ground, of water.
Plus
Acephate (Orthene), Karate , Methyl, etc.
Good Growing!
**Pesticide information obtained from Georgia Pest Control Handbook .
*** As always follow label and dispose of empties properly.
