West Bend, Wisconsin
June 3, 2002

Producers still have several options available to maximize soybean yields this year, even with
delayed plantings, explains Hunt Wiley, director of research for Dairyland Seed Co. "Producers need
to focus on the idea of maximizing the number of nodes per acre, and use strategies to increase the
number of nodes."

The number of nodes a plant produces, not the maturity, helps determine yield. Soybean nodes are
areas on the stem where leaves, branches, flowers and pods develop. A typical soybean plant has
about 22 nodes, if all goes well. "The more nodes a plant develops, the higher the yield potential,"
Wiley says. "So, a producer's goal should be to maximize the number of nodes per acre to recapture
lost yield potential due to delayed planting."

Several strategies can help maximize the number of nodes per acre, Wiley says. "Stay with the latest
maturing variety that is reasonable for your latitude," he says. "Later maturing varieties produce more
nodes before flowering is induced, compared to an early season variety."

Another strategy is to increase seeding rates to get as many plants per acre as your soil type and
fertility level will tolerate. "Soybeans planted later in the year are typically shorter and produce fewer
nodes," Wiley says. "More plants mean more stems and branches, which allows for more node
sites."

Variety selection can also maximize nodes per acre. "Varieties with more height, more branching
tendency and more aggressive vegetative growth will help produce more nodes per acre," Wiley
says.

Producers thinking about switching from corn to soybeans should be careful to address any
disease concerns, specifically Soybean Cyst Nematode, in their fields, Wiley says.

At the Otterbein research station, Wiley often is planting soybean varieties of different maturities late
into the season. And in many cases, the later maturing varieties yield the best.

"A couple of years ago, we planted six varieties ranging from group 0 to mid 4 on July 4," Wiley
recalls. "All set seed, all finished the season, and the latest maturity variety yielded the best. It was
the tallest and had the most nodes per acre."

Wiley stresses that managing for the number of nodes per acre will help maximize soybean yields.
"And that's done the best by staying with the longest-season variety planted at the highest
reasonable population," he says.

Dairyland Seed Co., Inc., is a 95-year-old, family owned seed company with research programs in
alfalfa, soybeans and hybrid corn. Its breeding programs, established in 1962, include company
breeding and nursery facilities in Clinton, Wis.; Gibson City, Ill.; Otterbein, Ind.; Gilbert, Iowa; and
Sloughhouse, Calif. Dairyland Seed also owns and operates an alfalfa seed conditioning facility in
Homedale, Idaho, and a corn seed conditioning facility in Mt. Hope, Wis. In 1993 Dairyland released
the world's first herbicide tolerant soybeans for maturities 1, 2 and 3. For more information, visit
Dairyland Seed on the web at www.dairylandseed.com.

Dairyland Seed Co., Inc., is a family owned seed company with research programs in hybrid alfalfa, alfalfa, soybeans and hybrid corn. Its breeding programs, established in 1962, includes company breeding and nursery facilities in Clinton, Wis., Gibson City, Ill., Otterbein, Ind., Gilbert, Iowa, and Sloughhouse, Cal. Dairyland Seed also owns and operates an alfalfa seed
conditioning facility in Homedale, Idaho.