Standing in his soybean field on a humid June afternoon, Kenroy Wipf shared successes and challenges he has faced while implementing conservation practices when planting soybeans.
Wipf recently began experimenting with seeding his cash crop and cover crops simultaneously using a two-bin air seeder. This year Wipf planted beans and between those rows inter-seeded a combination of oats, cereal rye, and flax on May 3, 2025. Unfortunately, despite never having the issue before, Wipf had to replant the soybeans with a drill due to the unique ground-hardening conditions that occurred this spring. This hard exterior affected the air seeder’s ability to input the seed deep enough into the soil while planting.
Now replanted, growing strong, and nestled between corn stalk residue from the year prior and a cover crop mix, it is now time to give the beans their chance to flourish solo. At this stage in the growing process, the existing cover crops will be terminated so the soybeans can soak up the newly established nutrients in the soil and can be harvested by themselves come fall. This termination chemical treatment for the beans is to kill weeds, volunteer corn, and the cover crops that are in between and around the cash crop rows. After a few days, the unwanted species will turn white which is closely followed by beautiful rows of soybeans.