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Rain Window Closing for Soybeans

SSS

Drought conditions became worse in the Tri-States in recent weeks  even as some areas got much needed rain, and an agronomist with University of Illinois Extension warns rain will only do crops some good for a few more days.

Mike Roegge, based in Quincy, said the corn crop is already mostly beyond help and soon additional rain will not do anything to boost soybean yields.

Speaking on Friday September 13th, Roegge said, "rainfall occurring a week from now, I don't think will do anybody any good to be honest with you. "

He said that at this time beans are starting to mature and once they begin to turn yellow, rain won't increase yield. He did say that for plants that haven't fully matured, rain will not add any more beans  but will increase the size of the beans they have already set.

Roegge said yields will be “all over the place” and will depend on specific soil type and rainfall amounts, and could even vary by 30 bushel per acre within the same field.

All of Des Moines, Lee and Louisa counties in Iowa, almost all of Clark and Lewis counties in Missouri, and the majority of Hancock and Henderson counties in Illinois are in severe drought according to theUSDA's Drought Monitor.
 

Scott Stuntz is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.