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2 planters? Start both on soybeans2 planters? Start both on soybeans

Data says to plant soybeans before corn if it’s early and the weather cooperates.

Tom J. Bechman, Midwest Crops Editor

January 13, 2025

3 Min Read
A soybean field with various plant sizes
WHICH DO YOU WANT? Size differences are primarily due to planting date differences in these soybeans in Ohio State University plots at the Western Ag Research Station near South Charleston, Ohio. Tom J. Bechman

Shawn Conley had just finished his impassioned plea to farmers and ag retailers. “Based on our extensive database across the country, planting soybeans first before corn makes sense in certain situations,” said Conley, Extension soybean specialist at the University of Wisconsin.

“That assumes it is at or after the approved federal crop insurance date for soybeans, it is still early, and conditions are favorable for planting,” he added. “The exact date will vary by location, but we’re often talking around mid-April. If those factors align, then do hard planting soybeans until an ideal date for planting corn. Again, that varies but is likely late April.”

Out in the audience sat someone whose father taught him to not even plant corn until early May. His dad was educated at Purdue University in the 1970s, and the recommendation then was to start planting soybeans around May 20. And this speaker is saying to plant all the soybeans you can in April, before you switch and plant the first kernel of corn? His hand shot up!

“So, what about people who have two planters, and start one planting corn and one planting soybeans the same day. You would still recommend that practice, right?” he asked Conley.

“If you have two planters and you are in this early window, start them both planting soybeans,” Conley answered. “Run both planters hard and get as many soybean acres planted as you can. Then when the ideal date for planting corn arrives, plant corn.”

Related:5 management tips for early-planted soybeans

Of course, there may be other considerations, like row-width on the second planter. But Conley made his point. “Our analysis of data from across the country shows an advantage for planting soybeans early if you have the opportunity,” he said. “You won’t have the opportunity every year, but if it is there, take it.”

Battle of the Belt weighs in on planting dates

Osler Ortez, Laura Lindsey and Taylor Dill began looking at which crop to plant first in 2023. Ortez is the Extension corn specialist at Ohio State University, Lindsey is the Extension soybean specialist at OSU and Dill is a graduate student working with them on what they’ve dubbed the Battle of the Belt. Which crop deserves to be planted first, winning the mock championship belt, like a wrestling belt?

“We began this study because the optimum planting time for both crops is the same,” Dill explains. “Based on past research, corn loses an average of 1.75 bushels per day in potential yield if planted after the end of April, and soybeans lose a half bushel per day if planted after April. Our goal is to determine which one has the smallest yield penalty for late planting.”

Related:Midseason check on Battle of the Belt

Two of three years are in the books for the Battle of the Belt study. Dill is still analyzing results for the northeastern location near Wooster, Ohio, for 2024, but results for Clark County in western Ohio and Wood County in northwest Ohio are in.

Results varied both years because weather conditions varied. However, overall, soybeans tended to fare better than corn at earlier planting dates, except for a mid-April planting date for soybeans in 2024.

“Yields really drop off for soybeans planted late,” Dill says. “So far, soybeans are winning as far as the crop to plant first in western Ohio.”

At the northwest site, it is a tie after two years, Dill says. Corn performed better early in 2023, but soybeans excelled in 2024. “We will see what 2025 brings at this site,” Dill concludes.

About the Author

Tom J. Bechman

Midwest Crops Editor, Farm Progress

Tom J. Bechman became the Midwest Crops editor at Farm Progress in 2024 after serving as editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer for 23 years. He joined Farm Progress in 1981 as a field editor, first writing stories to help farmers adjust to a difficult harvest after a tough weather year. His goal today is the same — writing stories that help farmers adjust to a changing environment in a profitable manner.

Bechman knows about Indiana agriculture because he grew up on a small dairy farm and worked with young farmers as a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor before joining Farm Progress. He works closely with Purdue University specialists, Indiana Farm Bureau and commodity groups to cover cutting-edge issues affecting farmers. He specializes in writing crop stories with a focus on obtaining the highest and most economical yields possible.

Tom and his wife, Carla, have four children: Allison, Ashley, Daniel and Kayla, plus eight grandchildren. They raise produce for the food pantry and house 4-H animals for the grandkids on their small acreage near Franklin, Ind.

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