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Hurricane Helene impacting soybean growers

A soybean specialist with North Carolina State University says growers across much of the country have been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Rachel Vann, who also serves as the lead public information officer with the Science for Success initiative, tells Brownfield farmers from the Southeast to the Eastern Corn Belt are facing a variety of issues.

“There’s some lodging. There’s some flooded fields.”  She says, “There’s some sprouting in the pods, and then seed quality declines from soybean diseases.”

Vann says soybeans sprouting in the pod has been the biggest surprise.

“Where it was pretty dry prior to Hurricane Helene, states like Ohio or southern Illinois, that’s where they’re seeing the issues with sprouting in the pods.”  She says, “That’s something that could happen when the beans drop below 50% moisture, but then pick up a lot of moisture.”

Vann says farmers should scout for seed quality issues, prioritize suspect fields, and have a strong grain storage plan. 

AUDIO: Rachel Vann – NC State University Extension

Photo courtesy of NC State University Extension