Mid August Crop Report Laura Soybeans 2022

Welcome to our mid August Laura Soybean crop report.  Just to recap, this production season has had it’s highs and lows.  We started off with rain and cold which kept us from getting in the field to plant.  Then when it straightened up and we could get in the field it turned dry and warm.  By the end of mid July we were about 7 inches behind normal here at our farm.  The crop was slowing down and going dormant as it waited for more rain.  Then since July 23rd we had 2.5 to 3 inches which had a large impact on the soil and the condition of the crop.  The soybeans starting growing again, the corn started to fill out the ears more (we really noticed it in the sweet corn) and the soybeans became a more healthy lighter shade of green.  (Whenever the soybeans are starved for rain, they change to a darker shade of green).  When the rain started back up it also nourished the weeds in the field.  We ended up having a few fields “zapped” with a weed zapper.  This is an attachment on a tractor that has a long copper tube that extends over about 8 rows.  The copper rod is set at a level just above the Laura soybean canopy and it is charged with high voltage, when the copper rod comes in contact with a plant that is taller than the soybeans, when it touches the weeds, it sends a high voltage shock thru the plant killing the plant.  There is a picture attached to this blog.  In another picture you can see how the pods have developed and now they are starting to fill the soybeans in the pods.  Another image is the roots, soybeans “fix” nitrogen in small spherical balls on the roots which can be used the crop next growing season.  An old rule of thumb is that you get 1 pound of usable nitrogen per bushel of beans produced, but ultimately it depends on many more factors than that.  I will do another crop update right after the 1st of September.  Thanks for checking in on our farm and the Laura Soybean progress for the 2022 crop.  It’s a lot of work but well worth the effort when you make soymilk that comes out tasting and looking great in the glass.  Attached are the pictures mentioned in the blog.