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Rain-soaked fields boost yields in some regions, challenge others

An abnormally wet growing season had a mixed impact on soybeans.

Pioneer U.S. Soybean Portfolio marketing lead Chris Pritchett says there were pockets that really benefited from consistent rainfall.

“That allowed them to produce at levels that they don’t normally see in soybeans, (like) in parts of Kansas that are cutting 60, 70, even up to 80 bushel is unheard of. So while we did have some challenges with wet feet in places, overall performance still reigned supreme.”

He tells Brownfield even in areas that received plenty of moisture, soybeans dried rapidly in early fall.

“Beans seemed to dry down really fast this year, so growers who planted early or staggered their planting and then could come in and have a staggered harvest really won this year.”

Pritchett says excessive rain did spawn some disease pressure and shortened windows for soybean farmers to make herbicide applications.