The squeeze on the nation's soybean seed supply is not loosening.

“The seed shortage is primarily a function of supply and demand,” says Trey Koger, Mississippi Extension soybean specialist. “Because of soybean market prices, demand is at an all-time high. In fact, if demand and seed availability holds up, we're about to plant the biggest soybean crop ever in the state.”



“Last year, bad weather hit areas the Mid-South relies on for seed-increase: northern Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and the Carolinas. The weather issue isn't a simple one. Those areas had a lot of hot, dry weather that led to small, dry seed often with extensive cracking to the seed coat.”


Unfortunately, there's no remedy for mechanical damage. Is there any way to compensate?

“The only thing we can do is plant more seed. In years when demand isn't so high and seed supply isn't so tight, we can pick and choose the best varieties. That isn't the case this year. There's no extra seed to plant.

“Most farmers book seed in the fall. That's good. However, due to many weather-related quality issues, a lot of soybean seed companies had to cut their seed availability projections. We're about to plant a lot of varieties we know very little about.”

If a farmer can procure seed, the next thing to do is make sure the germ testing is okay. “Pay close attention to that. In Mississippi, it's legal to sell seed that's at 60 percent germ, or better. Germination less than 60 percent may not be sold.”



“So it's extremely important that once a farmer gets his seed, he pays special attention to the percent germination. You must base your seeding rate on the germination — the lower the rate, the more seeding rate must increase (see accompanying charts).”



Lastly, don't plant a soybean seed without a fungicide treatment. “Seed treatments are the cheapest thing we can do to ensure that we don't lose stands to pythium and other soilborne diseases.”