2011 Soybean Crop Final Report
N.C. soybean producers harvested 1.36 million acres, down 190,000 from 2010. Production at 40.8 million bushels was up 1% from 2010. The state average yield per acre of 30 bushels topped 2010 by four bushels, due to an improved moisture situation at the end of the 2011 growing season. However, drought maintained a hold in regions of the state resulting in below average yields in many areas.
The record for state average yield of 34 bushels per acre was set in 2009, tying the record set in 2004. A record 60,180,000 bushels were harvested from 1.77 million acres in 2009.
Palmer Amaranth Control in Soybeans
Glyphosate-resistant Palmer Amaranth is widespread in North Carolina's Coastal Plain and is moving into the Piedmont. As a rule of thumb, growers should assume that any and all Palmer Amaranth is glyphosate-resistant. React quickly and do not allow Palmer Amaranth to become established. Use these programs to manage Palmer Amaranth in Roundup Ready soybeans and LibertyLink soybeans.
Soybean Rust Update
Steve Koenning, Extension Soybean Pathology Specialist, North Carolina State University, and Jim Dunphy, Soybean Specialist, Crop Science
Asiatic Soybean Rust
No evidence of Asiatic Soybean Rust was detected in North Carolina in 2011. Weather was generally unfavorable for the spread of rust spores in North Carolina.
Sentinel plots were in place in about 23 locations in North Carolina, and were monitoredfor soybean rust until frost. This effort is supported through soybean check-off dollars.
Resources for Soybean Rust in 2012
Some sources for more detailed information on Asiatic soybean rust are listed below:
The USDA soybean rust web site
http://www.sbrusa.net/
The North Carolina Agricultural Chemical Manual
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html
Soybean Rust Management in the Mid-Atlantic Region
http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/SSDW/RustBulletin08.pdf
Koenning / Dunphy Perspective on Asiatic soybean rust in 2010:
The lack of spread of soybean rust in 2010 is likely due to several factors: 1) soybean rust was just about “frozen out” of the US in the winter of 2009-2010, 2) an extremely hot summer restricted development
Of the rust pathogen, and 3) the lack of tropical systems that would transport spores northward thus far in 2010. North Carolina farmers should continue to monitor reliable reports of where else rust has been found. An up-to-date map of where rust has been found is at http://www.sbrusa.net. Fungicide recommendations for control of rust are at http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html. The current version of these NC updates should also be available at our Teletip line: 800/662-7301.
Soybean Rust – Reflections on Past Years
Rust was found in 17, 44, and 6 counties in 2005, 2006, and 2007 respectively. In spite of a favorable fall environment, rust was only found in five counties in 2008. Fungicides were not necessary to control rust and most foliar diseases were minor in 2008. Only in 2006 was it recommended that fungicides be sprayed in the southeastern counties on late planted late maturity soybean. Yield increases in these areas were on the order of 4 to 5 bushels per acre.
Fungicides
The down side of fungicide application is the cost of the fungicide and application. The upside is protection from disease – preventing yield loss and protecting the crop.
Reasons to Apply Fungicides:
Presence of disease (Frogeye, Target Spot, Anthracnose).
High yield potential.
Premium for seed quality.
Consider how long it will take to get fungicide applied to needed acreage. Take into consideration that with wet conditions you may not be able to apply by ground! Also, consider that application at R5 with a strobilurin or Topsin M can protect seed quality if harvest is delayed.
Reasons not to Apply Fungicides:
1. Cost.
2. Soybean at or beyond growth stage R5.
3. Increased potential for development of a fungicide-resistant disease.
Resources for Soybean Rust
A soybean teletip message for North Carolina has been set up at 1-800-662-7301 (the same number as for the cotton insect update), with a message updated as necessary.
Soybean Rust Management in the Mid-Atlantic Region (old version and new) can be found at the SSDW web site http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/SSDW/, as well as the Soybean Disease Atlas. The Soybean Rust Management guide is paid for with USB funds. We will distribute 600 copies of the publication “USING FUNGICIDES TO MANAGE soybean rust” will be distributed to Agents, CCAs, and Dealers. A PDF version can be obtained at http://oardc.osu.edu/soyrust/. The Fungicide Manual actually contains more information than most growers are likely to need.
Some sources for more detailed information are listed below:
The USDA soybean rust web site
http://www.sbrusa.net/cgi-bin/sbr/public.cgi
The North Carolina Crop Protection Manual
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/6-9.pdf
Fungicide Manual
http://oardc.osu.edu/soyrust/