South Carolina

The South Carolina soybean crop has weathered it’s ups and downs this year, with little to no rain, followed by hot and dry, followed by ample rainfall. David Gunter, Extension corn & soybean specialist at Clemson University based at the Edisto REC in Blackville, SC says in spite of it all, the crop looks good:

“We had a very up and down year, but right now the beans look really good. They have managed to make it through the hot dry spell. Right now we have a bunch of pods and the early varieties are really ready, but the later crops really need a good shower, they are loaded down right now.”
 

Gunter says that while the presence of the kudzu bug is pervasive across the state, the infestation is not as bad as it could have been:
 

“We have done a good job with insects. They were pretty bad and had spread all across the state and we did a lot of spraying. I thought it could have been a lot worse.”
 

Gunter sums up this year’s bean crop this way:
 

“If we can get another good rain, it will be one of the best crops I’ve seen in a long time.”
 

Make plans to attend Edisto Research & Education Center’s second fall field day next Thursday, October 4th at the Edisto Center near Blackville. We’ll have more on that later…David Gunter Extension corn & soybean specialist.