It’s another record year for soybean acres planted, as 10 – 15 percent of planned corn acres were shifted to soybeans due to the spring weather conditions. This record doesn’t come without challenges, though. Many of those acres will need special attention throughout the growing season.

Agronomy sales specialist Dawn Kielsmeier talks late-planted soybeans and how to best manage this year’s crop for a successful growing season.

Kielsmeier estimates that 70 percent of soybeans in her growing area were planted later than normal. On top of late plants, due to the heavy May rainfall and June dryness many fields are showing uneven emergence and growing stages right now.

To make up for lost calendar time, the best thing to do is make sure there’s good weed and disease control, Kielsmeier says.

“We have to take care of what’s out there at this point,” says Kielsmeier.

This season, in-season management will be very important to make sure the crop that is planted can thrive as much as possible.

Dawn Kielsmeier is an agronomy sales specialist with Pearl City Elevator in Baileyville, Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and a master’s degree in agronomy from the University of Illinois. Dawn has been a Certified Crop Advisor since 1993 and is one of this year’s ILSoyAdvisor CCA Soy Envoys.