With the continued increase in fertilizer prices it looks like soybeans are getting more and more attractive. Prices approaching $13 a bushel doesn’t hurt either!
Some companies are estimating a 6 percent increase in soybean acres in the Northeast. With 203 thousand acres of soybeans planted in NY last year that would mean an increase of 12 thousand acres. This is very plausible considering the increase in corn acreage last year and the increase in input costs this year. Of course some will be going back into corn, but if funds are tight, maybe soybeans are a better answer.
There have been recent articles in the press about shortages of soybean seed for 2008. It seems that the hot dry conditions late in the summer last year have resulted in some quality issues in seed beans grown in the lower Midwest. I checked with some local seed reps to find out if this would affect NY orders. Their feeling was that it would not affect NY because most of the varieties in question were higher maturity groups (3’s and 4’s). Most of our soybeans are mid 1’s to late 2’s. There are some early 3’s grown in the state and I’m sure seed reps will work with these producers if their preferred varieties have lower germination rates.
Lower Germination Equals More Seed: Growers can normally expect seed germination to be labeled at 90 percent. However, germ percentages of 85 percent are possible as we move later in the season. Germination rates are written on the end of each bag or on a seed tag.
The germination rate is important because it determines how many seeds you need to plant to achieve the desired plant population per acre. Lower germination results in a higher seed rate which means higher seed cost per acre. Also remember when you are estimating your planting rate to assume 90 percent emergence due to insects, weather, rocks, etc.
Shawn P. Conley, State Soybean Specialist for University of Wisconsin, recently cautioned soybean producers about seed treatments on low-germ soybeans. “It is also being suggested that some seed lots with low germ (80%) caused by thin seed coats should not be treated with a fungicide and/or insecticide in 2008. The rationale behind this is that the mechanical process of treating may further decrease the already low germination”.

Is a 5% difference in seed germination a big deal? Let’s put the all numbers together and see.
If you drop 200,000 seeds: 200,000 X 90% germ X 90% emergence = 162,000 estimated plants.
A reduction to 85% germ : 200,000 X 85% germ X 90% emergence = 153,000 estimated plants.

In a good growing season, we might not even see a yield difference in these two scenarios. We have seen how well soybeans can bush out; fill in the gaps and increase pod production. However, on a not-so-good year 9,000 plants per acre could result in a big loss.
If you have a question about seed germination, you can always have it tested at the Cornell Seed Lab at the Experiment Station in Geneva. The seed lab is located in Sturtevant Hall at the Geneva campus. They have a drop off box at the front entrance so you can leave seed samples after hours. The website is: www.nysaes.cornell/hort/seedlab. Their phone is 315-787-2242. The lab director is Kyle Arvin. Contact the lab for details on amount to submit, how to sample and whether to mail, use a commercial delivery service or drop off.
The costs are minimal to obtain important information on seed germination. Don’t wait until a week before planting to seek an analysis! It takes a week to germinate the seeds! The lab also tests most other kinds of seeds used in New York.
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