West Lafayette, Indiana
June 25, 1999
An extra-early wheat harvest in Indiana this year means that more Indiana farmers than
usual will get a chance to plant soybeans after the wheat harvest and get a second income
from their wheat acres.
Because springtime growing conditions have been nearly ideal for winter wheat, the crop is
maturing early and will be harvested about four to five days earlier than usual, according
to Ellsworth Christmas, a soybean and wheat specialist for the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. He said
the early harvest offers a better-than-average opportunity for Indiana farmers to plant
soybeans into freshly harvested wheat acreage or to "double-crop."
The crop and weather report from the Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service for the week
ending June 20 said the state's winter wheat harvest was 12 percent complete, compared
with the five-year average of 3 percent.
Christmas said that farms at the northern edge of the traditional double-crop line may be
better candidates for double-cropping than usual, because of the favorable weather.
"Soybeans following wheat could be attempted west of a line from Brookville to Warsaw
and south of a line from Warsaw to Wheatfield," he said. He added, however, that
double-cropping at or near the northern line is "very risky."
The soybean expert said farmers who double-crop should choose soybean varieties that have
a maturity one-half group earlier than a full-season variety for their areas. "If a
group 3.5 is considered a full-season soybean for your area, use a variety with a maturity
of 3.0," he said.
Because soil moisture is crucial for soybean seeds to germinate, Christmas said that
no-till planting is essential to retain moisture and also to save time in getting the crop
planted on the same day wheat is harvested.
Christmas cautioned farmers against making the double-crop decision before carefully
estimating cost and possible profit.
"Push your pencil really hard to determine the total costs that will be
involved," he said. "The 1999 soybean crop will likely be rather large,
resulting in low harvest prices. I would suggest that you use your county loan rate as a
target price. This will be around $5.26 per bushel. If your cost figures require a yield
that is not attainable, do not plant."
Christmas also urged growers to ask themselves these questions:
Can you harvest wheat at 20 percent to 22 percent moisture and then dry it to 12.5 percent
or 13 percent for market? If so, you can plant double-crop soybeans from seven to 10 days
earlier than usual.
Can your combine chop and spread residue evenly? If not, be sure to leave 8 inches of
stubble after straw is removed.
Do you have a good no-till drill that can cut through residue and put seeds at the proper
depth? Don't till, because it'll sacrifice too much necessary soil
moisture.
Do you have a burndown herbicide to kill all vegetation when you plant, as well as a
product for control during the rest of the season? Make sure you use both.
Is your soil moist enough for seeds to germinate? If not, don't plant!
Source: Ellsworth Christmas, (765) 494- 6373, echristm@purdue.edu
Writer: Amy H. Raley, (765) 494-6682, ahr@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@uns.purdue.edu
Purdue University news release
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