Soybean FAQ
Note: The varieties recommended in this section are arranged according to maturity. So when more than one variety is listed, the earliest variety within each group is always first, and the latest in that group will be listed last.
Q.Can I get a premium for growing any of the Wellman soybean varieties?
A. WFG 264, WFG 285, WFG 294, FG-1, WFG 384, and W 395 are Food Grade varieties. They can be raised for Wellman Seeds Export Division in Van Wert, OH. Call us for the current premium schedule. W 4230V, W 4233V and W 4237V are Vistive® soybean varieties and can be contracted with Bunge or Cargill for a premium.
Q. How thick should I plant my soybeans?
A. We recommend 150,000 to 170,000 seeds per acre for all soybeans planted in 15 inch rows. For 7 inch rows we recommend 180,000 to 195,000 seeds per acre. In heavy crusting soils it may be necessary to drop 200,000 to 220,000 seeds per acre. See your Wellman Seeds sales representative for additional information.
Q. What varieties are more suited for 30 inch rows?
A. All Wellman varieties are selected to perform well in narrow rows. Some varieties will out-perform others in wide rows because of their ability to branch out and fill in the middles of the rows. The tall bushy varieties are: W 4125, W 4127, W 4030, W 3431RR, W 4032, W 3932R, W 3636RR and WFG 395.
Q. What should I plant on light-colored sandy soils?
A. These soils will tend to be drought susceptible so the soybean must be able to close the canopy fast and produce lush growth in order to preserve moisture and grow tall enough for ease of harvest. W 3026RR, W 4229, WFG 285, W 4030, W 313, W 3431RR, W 3932R, W 4134 and W 3938R will do this best.
Q. What varieties are good choices for tight clay soils?
A. Strong healthy roots are needed under these conditions along with excellent root rot tolerance and/or resistance. Varieties with these traits are: W 4125, W 3026R, W 4229, W 4131, W 3932, W 4232, W3636RR, W 313 and WFG 395.
Q. Which varieties do not have multi-race Phytophthora resistance?
A. All varieties in our lineup that do not have genetic root rot resistance have superior root rot tolerance. These varieties will do very well in all but the most severe root rot areas when treated with ENCASE® seed treatment. The varieties with minimal genetic resistance are those with the Rps1A gene. Those varieties are: W 3927R, WFG 294, W 304, W 3932R, W 344, W 3836R, W 4236 and WFG 384.
Q. What is the significance of the Roundup Ready® variety numbers?
A. The Roundup Ready varieties all end in one or two R’s. The Genuity varieties all begin with a 4. On both of the Roundup Ready and Genuity varieties the second digit in each variety number indicates the first year that the variety was available to the farmer. The last two digits indicate the relative maturity number. For example, W 3134R and W 4125 were first available to the farmer for planting in the spring of 2011 and their maturities are 3.4 and 2.5 respectively.
Q. What varieties have the highest yield potential?
A. Based on county and state yield trials along with our extensive testing program these varieties are usually found at the top of their maturity group: W 3026R, W 4127, W 4230V, W 4131, W 4232, W 4134, W 4234 and W 4137 all have excellent 2 year yield averages.
Q. If I have to plant beans back to beans what varieties should I be using?
A. When soybeans are planted in the same field for two or more consecutive years, disease pressure will increase in that field. Make sure that you have an adequate level of Potash available to the plant to help it fight disease, apply Prudent Presto when the soybeans reach R3 to R5 growth stage and the variety selected should have good tolerance and/or resistance to most soybean diseases especially Phytophthora root rot. W 3026R, W 4229, W 313, W 4030, W 4131, W 3932, W 4134, W 3636RR and WFG 395 are best under these conditions.
Q. What herbicide should I use over the top of my Roundup Ready® Soybeans?
A. There are many herbicides labeled for Roundup Ready® Soybeans on the market today. At Wellman Seeds we have evaluated all of our soybean varieties using Roundup WeatherMAX™ and the family of Roundup® branded herbicides. All of our seed production acres are also treated with these products. Therefore; we highly recommend that you use Roundup WeatherMAX™ and the family of Roundup® branded herbicides on all of your Roundup Ready® acres for excellent weed control and no crop injury.
Q. I plant both early and late varieties. Which ones should I plant first?
A. Always plant your early varieties first and your later varieties last. A hot dry spell in August can force early varieties to ripen prematurely and result in lower yields. Later varieties can more readily withstand this type of weather and if rain comes in late August or early September the full season varieties can make the best use of it.
Q. If planting is delayed what will this do to the harvest date?
A. Given average weather conditions, research has proven that for every four days that you delay planting, harvest is delayed one day.
Q. How can I tell if replanting soybeans is necessary?
A. Most years, a uniform stand of 80,000 to 95,000 plants is sufficient to achieve the maximum yield potential of the field. By late May to early June that number drops to about 65,000-70,000. This is especially true for the bushy type varieties. Using a hula hoop and the chart below is the best way to calculate your actual population. If you have a thin stand and the plants are uniformly spaced an application of PRUDENT PRESTO foliar fertilizer will increase branching and help you achieve your yield goal for the field.
Note: The varieties recommended in this section are arranged according to maturity. So when more than one variety is listed, the earliest variety within each group is always first, and the latest in that group will be listed last.
Q.Can I get a premium for growing any of the Wellman soybean varieties?
A. WFG 264, WFG 285, WFG 294, FG-1, WFG 384, and W 395 are Food Grade varieties. They can be raised for Wellman Seeds Export Division in Van Wert, OH. Call us for the current premium schedule. W 4230V, W 4233V and W 4237V are Vistive® soybean varieties and can be contracted with Bunge or Cargill for a premium.
Q. How thick should I plant my soybeans?
A. We recommend 150,000 to 170,000 seeds per acre for all soybeans planted in 15 inch rows. For 7 inch rows we recommend 180,000 to 195,000 seeds per acre. In heavy crusting soils it may be necessary to drop 200,000 to 220,000 seeds per acre. See your Wellman Seeds sales representative for additional information.
Q. What varieties are more suited for 30 inch rows?
A. All Wellman varieties are selected to perform well in narrow rows. Some varieties will out-perform others in wide rows because of their ability to branch out and fill in the middles of the rows. The tall bushy varieties are: W 4125, W 4127, W 4030, W 3431RR, W 4032, W 3932R, W 3636RR and WFG 395.
Q. What should I plant on light-colored sandy soils?
A. These soils will tend to be drought susceptible so the soybean must be able to close the canopy fast and produce lush growth in order to preserve moisture and grow tall enough for ease of harvest. W 3026RR, W 4229, WFG 285, W 4030, W 313, W 3431RR, W 3932R, W 4134 and W 3938R will do this best.
Q. What varieties are good choices for tight clay soils?
A. Strong healthy roots are needed under these conditions along with excellent root rot tolerance and/or resistance. Varieties with these traits are: W 4125, W 3026R, W 4229, W 4131, W 3932, W 4232, W3636RR, W 313 and WFG 395.
Q. Which varieties do not have multi-race Phytophthora resistance?
A. All varieties in our lineup that do not have genetic root rot resistance have superior root rot tolerance. These varieties will do very well in all but the most severe root rot areas when treated with ENCASE® seed treatment. The varieties with minimal genetic resistance are those with the Rps1A gene. Those varieties are: W 3927R, WFG 294, W 304, W 3932R, W 344, W 3836R, W 4236 and WFG 384.
Q. What is the significance of the Roundup Ready® variety numbers?
A. The Roundup Ready varieties all end in one or two R’s. The Genuity varieties all begin with a 4. On both of the Roundup Ready and Genuity varieties the second digit in each variety number indicates the first year that the variety was available to the farmer. The last two digits indicate the relative maturity number. For example, W 3134R and W 4125 were first available to the farmer for planting in the spring of 2011 and their maturities are 3.4 and 2.5 respectively.
Q. What varieties have the highest yield potential?
A. Based on county and state yield trials along with our extensive testing program these varieties are usually found at the top of their maturity group: W 3026R, W 4127, W 4230V, W 4131, W 4232, W 4134, W 4234 and W 4137 all have excellent 2 year yield averages.
Q. If I have to plant beans back to beans what varieties should I be using?
A. When soybeans are planted in the same field for two or more consecutive years, disease pressure will increase in that field. Make sure that you have an adequate level of Potash available to the plant to help it fight disease, apply Prudent Presto when the soybeans reach R3 to R5 growth stage and the variety selected should have good tolerance and/or resistance to most soybean diseases especially Phytophthora root rot. W 3026R, W 4229, W 313, W 4030, W 4131, W 3932, W 4134, W 3636RR and WFG 395 are best under these conditions.
Q. What herbicide should I use over the top of my Roundup Ready® Soybeans?
A. There are many herbicides labeled for Roundup Ready® Soybeans on the market today. At Wellman Seeds we have evaluated all of our soybean varieties using Roundup WeatherMAX™ and the family of Roundup® branded herbicides. All of our seed production acres are also treated with these products. Therefore; we highly recommend that you use Roundup WeatherMAX™ and the family of Roundup® branded herbicides on all of your Roundup Ready® acres for excellent weed control and no crop injury.
Q. I plant both early and late varieties. Which ones should I plant first?
A. Always plant your early varieties first and your later varieties last. A hot dry spell in August can force early varieties to ripen prematurely and result in lower yields. Later varieties can more readily withstand this type of weather and if rain comes in late August or early September the full season varieties can make the best use of it.
Q. If planting is delayed what will this do to the harvest date?
A. Given average weather conditions, research has proven that for every four days that you delay planting, harvest is delayed one day.
Q. How can I tell if replanting soybeans is necessary?
A. Most years, a uniform stand of 80,000 to 95,000 plants is sufficient to achieve the maximum yield potential of the field. By late May to early June that number drops to about 65,000-70,000. This is especially true for the bushy type varieties. Using a hula hoop and the chart below is the best way to calculate your actual population. If you have a thin stand and the plants are uniformly spaced an application of PRUDENT PRESTO foliar fertilizer will increase branching and help you achieve your yield goal for the field.