If you have Roundup Ready soybeans you are just wasting fuel and soil. If you are growing specialty bean than you can justify cultivation.
Your Grand Father was doing it as a weed control measure. Many of the broad leaf weed controls, of years ago, would hurt the soybeans a little. So if you could cultivate and get the canopy to shade the rows. You would yield more than if you sprayed.
Today you will not help the weed control if you are raising RR soybeans. You might even hurt the weed control because the cultivation might make new weed seeds germinate. Plus if it turns off dry you will lose moisture by cultivation.
I have raised soybeans for over forty years. Todays genetics are making the yields higher than ever before. I don"t want to disrespect your Grand Father but he was just hanging on to some thing he "All ways" did. He was not making a economic judgment.
If you want to raise your yields here are some things to try. 1) Try narrower row spacing than 30 inch. I see a 4-5 bushel yield bump with fifteen inch or narrower rows. 2) Control planting depth and spacings. This will help get a even healthy crop. 3) Control fertility and disease will help get that top little jump in yields. 4) Fine tune the variety to the soil/weather/farm. I have found some varieties that just do better on my home farm that might not be good on my other ground.
I commend any young person that want to learn and try different things. Just apply your self to the things that can move you forward not things that have fallen by the wayside because they failed the test of time.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - My Ford Golden Jubilee - by Troy Estes. This article is about my '53 Ford Jubilee and a story that starts with taking the tractor to my brother's Starter/Alternator Rebuilding shop for a wiring fix. The generator was shot as well as all the wiring. I dropped off the tractor expecting a transformation from a 6 volt to a 12 volt system utilizing the original generator housing, and a total rewiring of the whole tractor. The front end center pin bushing was worn also so I ask that they replace it if they had time. Well, that�s wha
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1965 International Harvester McCormick Farmall cub tractor 2,500. Two owner tractor. My grandfather bought new in 1966, then we inherited it. Have all the paperwork original manual and all maintenance records. It starts and moves. Comes with underbelly mower, plough, and some other attachments.
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.