Consider Harvesting Soybeans Earlier to Reduce Risk and Improve Income

Soybean producers often wait to begin harvesting until every leaf has dropped and the moisture level of the beans in the field has dropped to, or below 13 percent. While these first fields may be harvested at the optimum conditions and moisture level at maximize value per bushel, the plants in the remaining fields will probably become too dry, increasing harvest losses and lost income due to the lost moisture weight. The main reason producers delay soybean harvest is to avoid paying moisture discounts or drying charges. The table below clearly shows the net value per bushel of soybeans when delivered at various moisture levels. Even when moisture shrink factors and discounts are applied, it is more profitable to harvest soybeans at 15 percent moisture than to harvest them at 10 percent moisture.

These calculations don’t factor in any of the other risks associated with delaying soybean harvest such as increasing the potential for harvest losses, soil compaction, combine ruts or delayed wheat planting. Shatter losses due to brittle pods increase as moisture levels drop below 11 percent. They also increase whenever soybeans dry to 13 percent and then undergo repeated wetting and drying cycles.

Ideal weather and soil conditions don’t last forever. This is another strong argument for taking off some of your soybean fields at 15 percent moisture as long as the weather and soil conditions are conducive. Every acre harvested under good weather and soil conditions is one less acre that may have to be harvested under poor conditions.

Wheat producers should be especially motivated to harvest soybeans early as wheat yields have been shown to decrease by 1.1 bushels per acre for each day planting is delayed after Oct. 1. The higher wheat yields realized from early planting will more than compensate for the small level of lost income realized by harvesting soybeans at 15 percent moisture.

Consider harvesting some of your soybean fields at 15 percent moisture as a way to reduce risk and improve farm income.

This article was produced by the SMaRT project (Soybean Management and Research Technology). The SMaRT project was developed to help Michigan producers increase soybean yields and farm profitability. The SMaRT project is a partnership between Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee.

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