Start growing season strong - Growers shouldn't hesitate to invest upfront to set the stage for the rest of the season. Tillage or use of a burndown herbicide application can help prepare and create a clean field before planting. At the same time a solid pre-emergence herbicide also can give growers an advantage, helping to buy time and possibly extend the application window for subsequent herbicide applications.

The University of Missouri soybean variety testing program experienced a range of conditions this year, including heavy rainfall early and dry weather during the summer, as well as some test plots recording good yields while others reflected poor growing conditions.

MU senior research specialist Mark Wieberg says initially planting got off to a quick start.