Eddie McGriff has worked with some of the region's top soybean yielders, and he says soybeans planted before May in Alabama can alone increase yield potential, but there's risks.

"Three factors that play a critical role in high soybean yields are adequate moisture, irrigation, planting date and solar radiation, or sunlight, during pod fill. The earlier growers can plant in Alabama, the more likely they can take advantage of all three factors," said McGriff, who is the northeast regional agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.

McGriff considers soybeans planted in mid-April through May 1 as early planted. Ultra-early planted soybeans would be planted in very late March through mid-April in Alabama.

"The soil and weather conditions may not always allow farmers to plant this early in Alabama, especially in North Alabama, but some years there will be a window of opportunity to plant ultra-early soybeans," he says.

The benefits of ultra-early soybeans in Alabama include:

The risks of planting ultra-early soybeans in Alabama include:

"The longest day of the year is June 21 and days become shorter after June 21. Indeterminate soybean varieties planted earlier will begin pod fill during the longest days of the year and take advantage of the highest amount of solar radiation. This allows maximum photosynthesis where the plant converts sunlight into sugars. These sugars are the energy source for the soybean plant and seed production," he said. "Indeterminate varieties are not as photoperiod sensitive as determinate varieties allowing them to be planted earlier."

McGriff offered suggestions to growers who want to try the ultra-early soybean in 2020: