IMPORTANT NOTICE: No dicamba herbicide has been approved for use in-crop with seed containing Roundup Ready® Xtend Technology for the 2025 spray season at this time.

No dicamba herbicide may be used in-crop with this seed unless and until such use is approved or specifically permitted. For current approval statuses for in-crop dicamba use with this seed, call 1-844-RRXTEND or 1-866-99-BAYER, or contact the U.S. EPA or your state pesticide regulatory agency. Plants that are not tolerant to dicamba may be damaged or killed if exposed to dicamba herbicides.

Longitudinal Study: Investigating the Planting Date’s Effect on Soybean Yield Potential in the Northern Plains

Key Findings

  • The optimum planting date to maximize soybean yield potential has a larger time frame than corn.
  • 10+ years of data supports the widely accepted practice of planting soybean early in the growing season, and waiting for more favorable conditions to begin planting corn (See A Long-Term Research Study Investigating the Effect of Planting Date on Corn Yield Potential and Moisture Content in the Northern Plains).
  • The potential to maximize yield at 100% is reduced by 1.0% per day after May 25. Individual locations and years may vary — this data should be used as a guide of recommendations on optimum planting dates.
  • Individual locations and years may vary — this data should be used as a guide of recommendations on optimum planting dates.
  • Typically, soybean seed can be planted when soil moisture conditions are satisfactory, regardless of soil temperature and forecast.

Trial Objectives

  • Understand the risks and rewards of planting soybeans at different times throughout spring.
  • Provide guidance on when to plant in order to maximize yield potential.
  • Help growers make informed replant decisions when stands are reduced by frost or other stressors.

Research Site Details

  • Ongoing trial conducted in the Northern Plains (North and South Dakota) since 2010.
  • Data summarizes a smaller data set with limited locations. Values are based on averages and not significantly analyzed.
  • While comparing data across years, findings are presented as a percentage of the maximum yield for the year and soybean product.
  • Non-replicated strip trial design.

Study Results

  • Late April to mid-May proved to have the highest yields, with a steady decline as the season progressed (Figure 1).
  • The potential to maximize yield decreased 20% from May 25 to June 15 (a span of 20 days), producing an average daily loss of 1.0% (Figure 1).

Year and Location of Strip Trials

YearLocation
2010Chancellor, SD
2011Chancellor, SD
2012NA*
2013Watertown, SD
Redfield, SD
2014Chester, SD
Ethan, SD
2015NA*
2016Berlin, ND
Chester, SD
2017Carrington, ND
Chancellor, SD
Watertown, SD
Redfield, SD
2018Chancellor, SD
Ethan, SD
Redfield, SD
2019Chancellor, SD
2020Chancellor, SD
Mitchell, SD
Washburn, ND
2021Litchville, ND
Nash, ND
Carrington, ND
Chancellor, SD
Watertown, SD
Mitchell, SD
*No data
Scatter plot showing soybean yield response to planting date in the Northern Plains from 2010-2021. The chart shows percent of maximum yield (50-110%) on the y-axis and planting dates from April 19 to June 18 on the x-axis. Data points are scattered across the chart with a dotted trend line showing yields generally increasing from late April through late May, then declining after early June. Two red arrows highlight significant yield drops: one around late May showing a drop from about 91% to 85%, and another around mid-June showing a drop from about 75% to 67%. The chart includes data from non-replicated strip trials across multiple locations in South and North Dakota, with specific locations and years listed at the bottom of the chart.
Figure 1. After May 25, the potential to maximize yield decreased by 1.0% per day (as shown via arrows).
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