Illinois Soybean Association Soy Envoy, Kris Ehler, has been observing yellow, stunted soybeans in fields and interviews University of Illinois Weed Scientist, Dr. Aaron Hager, to understand the cause. They discuss the problem of carry-over of herbicides from last year’s corn crop and the difficulty in identifying a distinct pattern.

Ehler and Hager also address the impact of moisture deficiency and discuss an important question – what are the possible outcomes for soybeans if precipitation occurs in the next 10 days or if the dry weather persists? They also consider solutions like tillage but acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all approach due to the influence of time and moisture. Dr. Hager also emphasizes the need for growers to be aware of this carry-over issue for the 2024 season.

Finally, Dr. Hager previews the upcoming University of Illinois Weed Science tour on June 28th at the Clem Farm, where participants can view research plots, interact with weed science experts, compare herbicide programs, and preview upcoming products. Read and watch more blogs from our Soy Envoys – https://fieldadvisor.org/soy-envoys/.