Stage of Growth Determines Frost Impact on Soybeans

NDSU Extension Broadleaf Agronomist Ana Carcedo says the early frosts experienced by much of the western half of North Dakota last week could greatly impact soybeans, depending on which stage they were in. “If the soybeans are before the R6 stage, so they’re just beginning to form seeds, we are going to have a huge yield loss, 75 to 80 percent.  After that, in late seed filling, we are talking about closer to 10 to 20 percent yield reduction.” Carcedo advises that soybeans killed in later stages, such as R6 and R7, should be left in fields to dry and harvest along with mature beans.