August is nearly here, which means it’s time to start thinking about applying soybean fungicide. This article will address some of the reasons you may want to use soybean fungicide this year. As you go through this article, you might find some similarities between this article and our previous article, Corn Fungicide: 5 reasons you need it in 2019. This is because a lot of the reasons to use fungicide on beans this year are similar to corn, but this article’s purpose is to look at these reasons through the lens of soybeans specifically. Without further ado, here are the five reasons you should be using fungicide on your beans this year.
1. Your Soybeans Look Good
If you were able to get all of your soybeans in on time and they emerged, then more than likely your beans look good in our area. We were lucky enough to get some timely rainfall this year with plenty of sunlight, so your beans have had what they needed thus far to produce a solid crop. August is typically a crucial month for soybeans, and everything you can do to maintain a healthy plant during its reproductive stages is very beneficial. Keep up the momentum with your good year and protect your investment with soybean fungicide.
2. Weather Conditions: Good for Beans = Good for Disease
Unfortunately, soybeans and corn face similar hurdles when it comes to favorable weather conditions for plant growth. Hot, sunny, humid, and generous moisture weather conditions lead to an opportunity for a bevy of pathogens to make an appearance. Many of these diseases won’t be visible until after the main fungicide application window, so it’s best to assume that they are out there and work to protect your plants from them.
3. If you are Spraying for Bugs, then Spray for Fungicide
This reason is the exact same for soybeans as it is for corn. This is because it has less to do with the plant itself and more to do with the cost. Japanese beetles have been a pest once again this year. They may be on the downturn of their life cycles now, but they are still apparent. Also, you have to worry about burrowing bugs such as grasshoppers, whose life cycle is going to reach its peak around fungicide time for beans. So, if bugs are a large enough concern to spray for, then you might as well add fungicide. The added expense for fungicide is minimal for the benefit you receive, and you are already paying the price for application. Take advantage of this trip over your beans and protect your yield even further through fungicide alongside insecticide.
4. Increase your Soybean’s Plant Health
Fungicide does more than just protect the plant from disease. It also helps the plant’s overall plant health. By adding fungicide, you may also increase leaf retention and photosynthesis, which will expand the lifespan of the soybean and its food-making properties. This means that your soybean will have the opportunity to put on more pods and fill them, as well as abandon fewer pods. Michigan State conducted a study on the effects of adding a foliar fungicide to soybeans. The study found that adding the fungicide at the R3 stage gave a significant increase to soybean yield. You can read more about that here.
5. Increase Your Soybeans’ Water Efficiency
Another little-known fact about soybean fungicide is that it allows your plant to increase its water efficiency. This means that your beans will not require as much water during its final stages of production. Also, your beans will be able to make the water it does have go a longer way towards producing food. Water-efficiency may be key if the rain decides to shut off. In this sense, it may be just as wise to add fungicide even if it is dry to give your beans a fighting chance towards a good yield.
Next Steps
Soybean fungicide is becoming more and more crucial to achieving high-end yielding soybeans. If you want your beans to be a bumper crop this year, then it may be time to consider using fungicide. If you are ready to take the next step towards protecting your investment and reaching new heights with your soybeans, then feel free to contact us at any of our locations to learn more. We carry different fungicide and insecticide options to meet your particular needs. We also have different application methods that you can choose from to align with your preferences. Use the links below to get in touch with a professional, and we can answer any more questions you may have as well as direct you towards a successful rest of your season through the use of soybean fungicide.
