Georgia farmers may have a rough time finding the soybean
seed they want and need. The
state’s seed producers have only about half the preferred seed
they need for 1996
planting.

“About 180,000 to 200,000 bushels of Southeast-appropriate
soybean seed are available,” said John Woodruff, an agronomist
with the University of Georgia Extension
Service.

“Based on estimates of small grain acreage in the state,
that seed is one-third to one-half of what our farmers will
need,” Woodruff said.

The main reason for the seed shortage was that seed producers
saw the downward trend in
soybean acreage and cut back accordingly. But this year, farmers
see the rising profit
potential in soybeans and are clamoring for seed.

“Farmers are seeing the advantage in growing soybeans after
small grains,”
Woodruff said.

Improved production methods and research on cutting costs
have helped farmers grow
better soybeans at less cost, making the crop more
profitable.

Georgia farmers produce soybeans in maturity groups seven and
eight. The group numbers
refer to the time of year they must be planted, the length of
their growing season and
when they’re ready
to harvest.

Woodruff said the seven and eight groups are well-suited to
the coastal South.

Farmers often grow soybeans after wheat or other small
grains. They can plant the
varieties in these later-maturing groups in June, after small
grains are harvested.

Soybeans in this group mature after most peanuts and cotton,
too. This allows farmers
to harvest matured soybeans after their peanuts or cotton crops
are in.

But that doesn’t
mean some varieties in other groups won’t grow here. Farmers can
choose other soybeans that have been tested in
Georgia and produce a good crop.

Beans from groups five and six grow mainly in the Mid-South
and Delta areas. “Bean varieties from this area
were developed for conditions much like ours,” Woodruff said,
“so the difference isn’t that great.”

To grow these varieties, though, farmers must plant them in
May or very early June.
That could cause scheduling problems both with harvesting small
grains and planting peanut
and cotton.

Woodruff tells farmers to start looking now for group seven
and eight seed. They can
contract with their seed supplier for the varieties they want
most.

If growers can’t
get all of the seed they need in that variety, they still have
time before planting to
look at other varieties.

Farmers who must plant soybeans not usually grown in Georgia
must choose carefully.

“Some of these varieties have been tested in the state,”
Woodruff said. “That information is available
from your county Extension agent.”

Woodruff said growers should check on whether the tested
variety resists diseases and
insects often found in Georgia fields.

Soybean farmers can request certain seed varieties from their
seed supplier. Since many
suppliers don’t
stock seeds in their warehouses, they can put out a computer
search for a seed variety.>

“That’s an advantage and a disadvantage,” Woodruff said. Some
suppliers will try to hoard their most popular seed
varieties, hoping for higher prices.

Farmers who know their options in choosing seed from other
regions can use that option
if premium seed prices skyrocket.

The only farmers this shortage will be a real problem for,
Woodruff said, are those who
don’t take quick
action to get their soybean seed.

“If they wait too late,” he said, “even the
alternative seed supplies may run out. And they’ll be out of a
crop.