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Green stem soybeans a nuisance at harvest

Green stem soybeans are causing headaches at harvest.

Iowa State University agronomist Gentry Sorenson says farmers have a couple options.

“You can wait until those stems dry down in general, or we can harvest it, which we should do, when the proper moisture is present. But it does make for slow progress of harvest in general.”

He tells Brownfield green stems are usually found in areas of stress and can result in fewer pods.

“That can (also) lead to that plant continuing to survive and not drying down properly.”

Sorenson covers northwest Iowa and says some soybeans in the area were around 10 percent moisture before recent rains.