Higher commodity prices and a short supply of quality planting seed has many soybean growers scrambling to get enough planting seed in 2008.

This is Eugene Terhune, County Extension Agent with the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture.

Because of the unusually wet spring, very few acres of soybeans have been planted so far. When the weather finally gives us a break and fields get dry enough to work, soybean growers need to get an optimal stand of soybeans the first time.

What is an optimal stand of soybeans? The final plant stand for determinate irrigated soybean varieties of maturity group 5, 6 or 7, should be about 100,000 plants per acre or about 2.3 plants per square foot.

For non-irrigated soybeans we want to have fewer soybeans planted with a final plant stand of about 80,000 plants per acre or about 1.8 plants per square foot.

If you planted early and planted indeterminate maturity group 3 or 4 soybeans a final plant population of 130,000 plants per acre is recommended or about 3 plants per square foot.

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service has soybean seeding rate tables for different soybean row spacings. Soybean producers can use these seeding rate tables to properly calibrate their soybean planters. These tables can be obtained at you local county Extension office.

This is Eugene Terhune, County Extension Agent with the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture.