Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Double Crop Beans after Wheat??

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried this, and if you have what were the results?

Views: 1580

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on June 11, 2010 at 5:35am
Hi Chris:

I believe maturities have been the reason this is not a common practice in Ontario...I do know it works in the Southern USA...

Here is the best agronomic information from the closest state - OHIO...

Joe

Double-Cropping Soybeans Following Wheat
AGF-103-01
Dr. Jim Beuerlein
Professor
Ohio State University Ag Extension

Ohio farmers have an opportunity to increase their productivity by double-cropping on one million acres of wheat each year. The 10 to 12 weeks of growing season that remain after wheat harvest are enough to grow a second crop of soybeans. Although yield potential for double-crop soybeans is reduced by late planting, the value of the combined soybean and wheat crop makes this practice economically competitive with full-season corn and soybean crops.

Careful management is required for production of a profitable second crop. The soybean planting date is critical in determining productivity of the system. At the time of wheat harvest, the potential yield of soybeans is decreasing by at least one bushel per acre for each day that planting is delayed. Thus, every effort must be made to get the wheat harvested and the soybeans seeded as early as possible. Selecting an early-maturing wheat variety can allow for harvest five to seven days before the late varieties are ready. Wheat can be harvested when grain moisture is 18 to 20 percent with no loss of quality and will permit soybean planting to be advanced from three to five days. Planting the wheat immediately after the fly-safe date often hastens its development, leading to a slightly earlier harvest. If planting cannot be completed by July 10, double-cropping should not be attempted.

The straw remaining after wheat harvest must be considered. While excessive amounts of straw can interfere with the soybean planting operation, some wheat stubble (12 inches) should be left on the field to provide mulch cover for the soybean crop. Straw passing through the combine should be chopped and spread widely or baled and removed. Using a stripper header is also an ideal way to leave the wheat straw in the field without it interfering with soybean planting.

Soil moisture present at the time of wheat harvest is the critical factor for determining the potential yield of the soybean crop. If soil is quite dry at the time of harvest, double-cropping should not be attempted. Soybean seed planted into dry soil will not germinate until enough rain falls to allow germination. This may occur too many days after harvest for satisfactory crop growth and yield. If the subsoil has been depleted of moisture by the wheat crop, soybean growth will depend totally on rainfall. Usually rainfall amounts during July ­ September are inadequate to support adequate growth of the second crop. Most failures can be avoided by not planting when the soil is dry at the time of wheat harvest. "If June is dry, do not try." The soybean crop should be planted without tillage to save all available moisture.

Selection of the proper soybean variety is critical. Varieties that are extremely early maturing for an area do not yield as well as later-maturing varieties. In general, a variety with a mid-season maturity rating for the area is usually the best choice. For fields near I-70 that can be planted on July 4, a variety with relative maturity of 3.4 to 3.8 will be suitable most years.

Narrow rows (7 inches) are required for maximum yield of double-crop soybeans. Because of late planting, the soybeans flower about 30 days after emergence, resulting in small plants. Since the plants will be small, the planting rate should be increased to 4 seeds/ft. in 7-inch rows.

With no-tillage planting, weed control with herbicide is essential for satisfactory production of the second crop. Wheat stubble ordinarily contains many weed seedlings that must be controlled. When competition from the wheat is removed, these weed seedlings will develop rapidly and compete severely with soybeans. Herbicides selected and rates of application used for weed control in double-crop soybeans should kill the weeds present at planting time and provide residual control of weeds emerging from seed. The use of Roundup Ready soybean varieties and Roundup Ultra for weed control almost guarantees perfect weed control.

Adequate amounts of phosphorus and potassium may be applied for both crops when planting the wheat.

Double-cropping is not a practice for everyone. Unless producers are willing to follow closely the management procedures outlined here, they should not attempt double-cropping. By adding the value of 20 to 30 bushels per acre of soybeans to the value of the wheat crop, double-cropping soybeans after wheat becomes quite competitive economically with other cropping practices. In fields where soybean diseases are a major problem, double-cropping soybeans will make those problems worse and should not be attempted.
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on June 11, 2010 at 5:40am
After a little more digging....here is an article from the OMAFRA website from 2 years ago...you may want to call your extension rep...

Joe

Double Cropping Soybeans
Author: Horst Bohner - Soybean Specialist/OMAFRA Stratford

Creation Date: 25 July 2008
Last Reviewed: 25 July 2008


Winter wheat harvest is now well underway. With higher commodity prices and lots of soil moisture there is renewed interest in double cropping soybeans after wheat. A number of early harvested wheat fields have already been seeded to soybeans. Double cropping is not generally practiced in Ontario, because our growing season is too short and there is often insufficient moisture in mid-summer to establish the crop. This year moisture is adequate in most regions. Double cropping soybeans has been attempted with limited success in Essex and Kent counties when wheat came off early. This year the wheat has not come off early so the likelihood of success is relatively small unless September weather ends up being unusually warm. In Southwestern Ontario it's possible to achieve a 20-30 bu/ac crop if planting on July 1st and everything else going right. However, the 30 bu/acre yield potential on July 1st drops approximately 1 bu/ac/day. Attempting to double crop after July 15th has little chance of success unless there is a very long fall. If double cropping is attempted consider the following points:

The low yield potential of such a late planted crop means that input costs must be kept at a minimum. The keys to a successful soybean double crop are adequate moisture and a long, open fall.
Harvest wheat as early as possible. Every day counts. Spread chaff and straw evenly. Aim for an 8- 12" stubble height - this helps to ensure stem elongation for higher bottom pod height without impeding early growth.
If there is no moisture to a depth of 2.5 inches, plant at 1.5 inches and wait for rain. Success will be rain dependent. If conditions are extremely dry, do not attempt to double crop. Most double crop failures can be attributed to beans being planted into dry conditions.
In fields where soybean diseases are a major problem, double-cropping will make those problems worse. Consider the rotational implications.
Control weeds in wheat, either before planting or before emergence of soybeans. Also, plan the herbicide program to control volunteer wheat.
Plant in narrow rows with high seeding rates. Aim for 250,000 seeds/acre in 7.5 inch rows. The quicker a full canopy is achieved the better.
Choose tall, small seeded varieties;
In greater than 2800 CHU areas choose a
variety close to full maturity
In areas with less than 2800 CHU's choose a variety with slightly lower CHU's than full season. Choosing very short day maturities (<2500) is not a good option. Short season soybeans planted very late will not yield well because the plants will not grow tall enough. Full season beans will provide greater height and better pod set. Due to the photo period effect a full season bean will not mature significantly later than a short day bean.
There is no crop insurance for such a late planted crop
Permalink Reply by Chris Schaap on June 11, 2010 at 1:54pm
Thanks for the information. I know someone who tried it last year with a 29 bushel yield. I thought i would look into it and ask around you see if anyone else had tried it with good results!
Thanks!

Joe Dales said:
After a little more digging....here is an article from the OMAFRA website from 2 years ago...you may want to call your extension rep...

Joe

Double Cropping Soybeans
Author: Horst Bohner - Soybean Specialist/OMAFRA Stratford

Creation Date: 25 July 2008
Last Reviewed: 25 July 2008


Winter wheat harvest is now well underway. With higher commodity prices and lots of soil moisture there is renewed interest in double cropping soybeans after wheat. A number of early harvested wheat fields have already been seeded to soybeans. Double cropping is not generally practiced in Ontario, because our growing season is too short and there is often insufficient moisture in mid-summer to establish the crop. This year moisture is adequate in most regions. Double cropping soybeans has been attempted with limited success in Essex and Kent counties when wheat came off early. This year the wheat has not come off early so the likelihood of success is relatively small unless September weather ends up being unusually warm. In Southwestern Ontario it's possible to achieve a 20-30 bu/ac crop if planting on July 1st and everything else going right. However, the 30 bu/acre yield potential on July 1st drops approximately 1 bu/ac/day. Attempting to double crop after July 15th has little chance of success unless there is a very long fall. If double cropping is attempted consider the following points:

The low yield potential of such a late planted crop means that input costs must be kept at a minimum. The keys to a successful soybean double crop are adequate moisture and a long, open fall.
Harvest wheat as early as possible. Every day counts. Spread chaff and straw evenly. Aim for an 8- 12" stubble height - this helps to ensure stem elongation for higher bottom pod height without impeding early growth.
If there is no moisture to a depth of 2.5 inches, plant at 1.5 inches and wait for rain. Success will be rain dependent. If conditions are extremely dry, do not attempt to double crop. Most double crop failures can be attributed to beans being planted into dry conditions.
In fields where soybean diseases are a major problem, double-cropping will make those problems worse. Consider the rotational implications.
Control weeds in wheat, either before planting or before emergence of soybeans. Also, plan the herbicide program to control volunteer wheat.
Plant in narrow rows with high seeding rates. Aim for 250,000 seeds/acre in 7.5 inch rows. The quicker a full canopy is achieved the better.
Choose tall, small seeded varieties;
In greater than 2800 CHU areas choose a
variety close to full maturity
In areas with less than 2800 CHU's choose a variety with slightly lower CHU's than full season. Choosing very short day maturities (<2500) is not a good option. Short season soybeans planted very late will not yield well because the plants will not grow tall enough. Full season beans will provide greater height and better pod set. Due to the photo period effect a full season bean will not mature significantly later than a short day bean.
There is no crop insurance for such a late planted crop
Permalink Reply by AgOntario on June 12, 2010 at 8:17am
Reply on OntAg Twitter:

HeyBrendan @OntAg Tried two years ago, complete waste of time and effort. Had rain right up until and post planting then dried up. Not again!!
Permalink Reply by John Beardsley on June 13, 2010 at 8:20am
had a friend who used to fly them in to wheat every year. i loved it because i got rid of a lot of treated seed. not sure if he still does it or not. in our area it would PROBABLY work this year because we have moisture. better is to find a run out alfalfa fied and offer to spray it in return for 90 percent of the yield or whatever you think is fair. you can insure them if planted before june 22nd i beleive but agricorp want s to look at them before they insure them
Permalink Reply by Chris Schaap on June 13, 2010 at 11:17pm
So there isnt anyone who has done it sucessfully?

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Ontario farmland prices cool down after years of double-digit jumps

Though the recent year-over-year increases in farm prices are levelling off in southwestern Ontario, good land remains too pricey for many people with dreams of becoming an owner. "Anything like 100 acres, you're just not going to find it for under $5 million," said Crispin Colvin, a farmer and area director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for Lambton and Middlesex counties. "There isn't really any cheap location to get into farming."  A report released this week by Farm Credit Canada, a Crown corporation that provides financing to the agriculture industry, said the average price of a farm in the southwestern Ontario region rose by 3.2 per cent in 2024, reaching an average per-acre price of $33,700.  That rate of increase is down considerably from recent years, which have seen double-digit increases in average farm prices: 2021: 22.2 per cent.  2022: 19.4 per cent.  2023: 0.7 per cent.   Colvin said he's seen prices well above what's laid out in the Farm Credit Canada repo

Ontario building set to stop smoking days after fire

A large agricultural storage building was destroyed in a fire today in Ontario, Oregon, that threatened nearby businesses and fuel storage facilities. Ontario Fire and Rescue (OFR) responded to the structure fire at 152 SE 9th Avenue, finding the approximately 25,000-square-foot building engulfed with flames visible through the roof in multiple locations. According to OFR, the fire threatened Murakami Produce to the south and a Farmers Supply COOP bulk fuel storage facility to the east while also spreading through vegetation to the west. "Rescue 1 established a water supply and started a defensive attack on the south end of the building to protect exposures," OFR stated.  Firefighters used three nearby hydrants to flow master streams, successfully containing the blaze to the building of origin and protecting neighboring structures. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. The response included five engines, two ladder trucks, one water tender, two brush trucks, thre

How one agricultural society is taking inspiration from the 1800s to keep its fair relevant

It would cost about $80,000 to bring in the calibre of carnival rides that would rival Rockton World’s Fair or the Norfolk County Fair. It’s money the Burford Agricultural Society just doesn’t have. It operates on a “shoestring budget” from fundraising, Brant County grants, and donations from the community, society president Chris Howell said. After its longtime midway provider retired from the business several years ago, the society has struggled to set itself apart from the nearby fairs that also run over Thanksgiving weekend. But the event is “so much more than just the midway,” Howell told The Spectator. It’s “a celebration of farming, agriculture and rural life in Ontario.” When the Burford Fair started in 1860, it was a way for the farming community to gather to celebrate the end of harvest and see “who could grow the biggest pumpkin, who (had) the best horse,” he said. It’s that spirit the society wants to bring back.

Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre holds AGM

As it continues its journey towards an eventual opening, the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre welcomed guest speaker Kerry-Leigh Burchill, director general of the Ottawa-based Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, to its annual general meeting to shed some light on what the group in Listowel can do to be successful. As Burchill explained to attendees at the Thursday morning meeting, the agriculture industry is one that is very dynamic and ever-changing, meaning the Discovery Centre will have to continuously invest in lifelong education for its team. “That you’re putting together a Discovery Centre intuitively expects that it is dynamic, but we really need to make sure that we continually support our staff and our volunteers to make sure that they are aware of those stories and can answer questions from the public because I can guarantee that the questions from the public are becoming more complex as they have access to more and more information and, oftentimes, misinformation,” Burch

How a trade war could boost small-scale farming in southwestern Ontario

A southwestern Ontario farmer hopes the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war encourages the country to look inward to keep itself fed, while making itself more resilient in the face of future crises. It's a hope shared by some farmers with smaller operations, as they search for upsides in a situation that could have dire consequences for the Canadian economy — and agribusiness on a larger scale. "I think it's really important that we know how to supply ourselves," said Chris DeVries, the owner of Common Ground Farm in St. Thomas, who believes "we could 100 per cent produce all the food we need." The former engineer grows a wide range of vegetables year-round in a combination of fields, greenhouses and hoop houses, taking his harvest to farmers' markets in London and Kitchener. Common Ground also runs a delivery service in London and St. Thomas. A number of industries across Canada have already started cutting back as tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump — and a resulting lack o

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service