Tony Windham has looked at the yields and production
costs and calculated net returns for every dryland,
irrigated, full-season and doublecrop field in the Soybean
Research Verification Program (SRVP) from 1984 to 1998.
Windham, an economist for the Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Arkansas, says his 15 years of
data show that, year-in and year-out, "The yields and
net returns for irrigated full-season and irrigated
doublecrop soybeans are very comparable."
Average yields for the irrigated full-season fields
were only about 3 bushels higher than yields for the
irrigated doublecropped fields - 46.9 bushels per acre
versus 43.6. Net returns (returns minus fixed and out-of-pocket
expenses) are almost the same.
U of A Agronomist Lanny Ashlock says irrigation helps
offset the later planting date for soybeans following
wheat. Production costs are also lower for the doublecropped
beans.
"Expenses for the irrigated doublecropped fields have
averaged about $20 less than the irrigated full-season
beans," says Ashlock. "Machinery costs are lower, especially
with no-till production. Weseldom have to apply a fungicide
later in the season, and there's less weed pressure."
Windham says of the three categories of dryland fields
in the verification program - early season, full season
and doublecrop - the early season fields have produced
the highest yields and net returns.
Ashlock notes that the earlier planted beans have a
better chance of doing well because they're generally
maturing when there's still moisture in the ground.
"The plants are already reproductive, starting to bloom,
in mid- and late May. They're setting pods in June and
filling pods in July. With one or two timely rains in
July, we have a chance of good yields.
"In 1994, we had a cool, wet summer and a record yield.
But in years like 1998, when we had a hot, dry June,
dryland doublecropped soybeans can't overcome the later
planting date without irrigation."
Windham says that when farmers look at the yield and
economic data from the Soybean Research Verification
Program, they often note figures such as 31.7 bushels
for dryland early season beans and 28 bushels for dryland
full-season beans. He warns that, "Those are averages
for 15 years, and averages hide the variability.
"A year with single-digit dryland yields might put
some farmers in such a severe financial situation that
they can't continue farming."
The Soybean Research Verification Program, funded by
the Soybean Promotion Board, has been proving the importance
of good timely management practices to the farmer's
bottom line for 16 years.
A little help from Mother Nature never hurts, either.
Soybeans Today January 2000
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