Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 7/28/20


Many North Carolina soybean fields got off to a rough start in 2020. Early planted soybeans encountered excessive moisture and cooler-than-normal temperatures, leading to compromised stands, increased seedling disease, slow growth and marginal root systems. Many later planted soybeans in the state have encountered dry weather since planting, leading again to compromised stands, increased seedling disease, and marginal root systems.

Now it is July and we are encountering our typical high temperatures and we have soybeans in the state anywhere from the early vegetative growth stages all the way to soybeans approaching physiological maturity (R7). It is estimated that half our North Carolina soybean crop is flowering and a ⅓ of our soybean crop is into pod development (USDA NASS). The current high temperatures, coupled with drought in parts of the state, are creating concern for some growers and their soybean crop. 

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