There is no telling what 2022 will bring, but we’re optimistic that great things are in store for our grower customers. In 2021, heavy disease pressure and variable weather conditions brought highs and lows to different regions, but growers were able to overcome most of these obstacles to pull off another successful crop. But now, as we look forward to the new year, we must not forget what we learned in 2021, as it will help us plan for the next growing season. Here are a few of our observations from the year.
Soybeans are being planted earlier and earlier.
It’s common practice to plant corn before soybeans, but as soybean genetics and soybean seed treatments continue to improve, we’re seeing more growers put in soybeans early to maximize heat units and sunlight. Genetics are evolving, resulting in more cold-tolerant soybeans that can handle frost. As the leading provider of soybean genetics in the United States, Stine is at the forefront of this evolution, and we have seen growers have success planting soybeans earlier in the season.
Disease pressure was a concern.
We heard several reports of corn disease pressure this year. Unfortunately, in many cases these diseases likely started in the spring but didn’t become evident until fall which can lead to standability issues. For the most part, stalk rots typically affect the root structures of plants, which results in water and nutrient uptake issues later in the season. This is where regular scouting would have come in handy. Growers can often detect stalk rot early if they scout often and dig up roots in different sections of the field to review the root structure.
Some of the most prevalent corn and soybean diseases we saw this year included tar spot, frogeye leaf spot, gray leaf spot and southern rust. Tar spot was among the most troubling issues we saw reported in 2021, which resulted in standability and grain fill issues in areas of Michigan, northern Illinois, northern Indiana and northern Ohio.
If these diseases were a problem for growers this year, it’s good practice to anticipate them again in 2022. Regular scouting and timely fungicide applications can help prevent these diseases in the future. Growers should also work with their local Stine rep to determine what genetic packages can help mitigate risk.
Timely nitrogen and sulfur applications are a must.
Yield starts with what’s in the bag, but it takes a super management approach to achieve high yields each year. One thing we pushed in 2021 that we will continue to push moving forward is regular application of nitrogen and sulfur. Timing is key here, so it’s important to determine when the plant is going to need the nutrients. The growers who applied nitrogen and sulfur at the right time saw great success in achieving their yield goals. We recommend adding sulfur in tandem with nitrogen. Sulfur helps with the uptake of nitrogen and other vital nutrients. It’s also essential for chlorophyll production and the photosynthesis process of the plant. Luckily, there’s a lot of equipment and technology out there to help growers make timely in-season applications of both nitrogen and sulfur, from the tassel stage and beyond through grain fill.
Growers should take note of any issues they had in 2021 as they may be a factor for the 2022 growing season. Mapping out a plan to mitigate risk before next year’s crop goes in the ground is a must, and your local Stine sales rep is available to help strategize an action plan for the new year. You can also tune in to our new podcast — the Stine Seedcast — wherever podcasts are available to learn the latest tips and super management strategies for consistent yields.