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Better Farming
January 2017
DOUBLE
CROPPING
SOYBEANS
success, double crop beans on and off
for the past 15 years. Last year,
however, he was able to choose a
variety that specifically fit his farm
and growing zone.
Variety evolution is a large factor
that separates the double cropping of
the past from the present. As the
varieties’ maturity continues to
shorten, farmers sacrifice yield less
often.
“Just within the past four years, we
have learnt to scale back the maturity
a long ways,” says Matheson.
It is possible to grow a successful
double soybean crop in 90 days.
Today’s varieties allow producers to
strive for that goal.
How does one begin to plan for
90-day beans? The answer is in
matching the production zone to the
suitable variety maturity, says Richter.
A region needs at least 2,900 crop
heat units (CHU) before a farmer
considers double cropping, says
Richter. Considering industry pressure
for shorter season beans, Richter
believes it may be possible to push
double crop soybean opportunities into
the 2,800 CHU area if farmers plant
before the July 15 deadline.
In areas that have 3,000 CHU, a
short season variety can be used and
will mature in good time, says
Richter. “We’ve had some growers
who have harvested (double crop
beans) before all of their full season
beans were off.”
Deitrich testifies to this result: he
harvested his crop 89 days after
planting. “You have to go early (with
maturity). Our variety (was) designed
for Manitoba,” he says.
Growers will mitigate their risk by
knowing their maturity zone and, in
turn, the variety that suits it best.
Farmers have peace of mind, “know-
ing the plant will mature by the
harvest date,” Richter says.
Mike Donnelly-Vanderloo, a
farmer in Thorndale, experienced this
first-hand when he decided after 20
years of growing double crop beans
– and a dry spring – that he would
return his seed and plant a cover crop
instead. After a mid-July rain, he
changed his mind, bought the earliest
variety he could find, and planted on
July 16. Donnelly-Vanderloo harvest-
ed a strong average of 38.5 bushels an
acre in the fall.
“When you think you have it all
figured out, something odd will come
up,” he says. “I don’t think I’ve learned
as much as I have about crops than I
have with double crop soybeans.”
Planting logistics
The planting requirements of double
crop soybeans are specific. They
begin with equipment and planting
population.
“It’s really hard to plant too many
seeds,” says Bohner. Recommending
300,000 seeds per acre, he finds
250,000 is the minimum. “The plants
do not grow as many nodes because
of the shorter season, so increasing
the plant population is critical.”
Denotter echoes these thoughts,
noting “the (beans) don’t stand tall.
You can’t afford to be cheap on the
population.”
Most growers use air drills for
planting double crop soybeans. The
air drill allows for a solid seeded
configuration: narrow, seven-and-a-
half-inch rows. Narrow rows with a
dense plant stand allow for thick,
fast-closing canopies with higher
lower pods, says Richter.
Denotter began by using a planter
to double crop his beans in 20-inch
rows. “It was fine, but the air seeder is
the best way to seed them, even with
straw standing up tall.” To help
preserve moisture, Denotter does not
till the land prior to planting.
Matheson shares similar views
about row width; however, he practices
light tillage.
“Where there has been built-up
Eric Richter
With today’s varieties, farmers do not have to choose between beans that are fast maturing,
and beans that are of high quality.
Eric Richter, Syngenta, photo