An extension soybean specialist with Purdue University says the ag economy is leading many farmers back to the basics.
Shaun Casteel says low commodity prices have soybean growers closely examining crop budgets.
“You think about market prices, and it’s like, ‘OK, what are my I have to do this no matter what’s?’” He says, “I go back to the foundations. And so, for us it’s timely planting and a good stand establishment and variety selection. All those come in.”
Casteel says soybeans are a hardy crop that can withstand more adversity than their counterpart, corn.
“All these extras that people want to add on, especially in the previous years, a lot of people have put all of the seed treatments they can on there.” He says, “Well, do you really need that?”
He tells Brownfield…
“If you’ve got a fungicide seed treatment that handles the diseases of your fields, that’s probably all you really need.” He says, “You don’t need to really worry about a biological or an insecticide.”
Casteel says research shows planting soybeans in the Midwest in proper conditions prior to the first week of May is the best way to maximize yield.
Brownfield spoke with Casteel at the 2026 Illinois Soybean Association Field Advisor Forum in Urbana.
