Experiments were conducted at Stoneville, MS on Sharkey and Tunica clay soils. Row spacing was 20 in. (narrow rows) or 40 in. (wide rows) and seeding rate was 5 seed/ft. of narrow row and 10 seed/ft. of wide row in all experiments. Estimates of costs and returns were developed for each annual cycle of each experimental unit in each experiment. Total specified expenses (direct and fixed costs, excluding costs for land, management, and general farm overhead) were calculated using actual inputs for each treatment in each year of the experiment. Direct expenses were costs for herbicides, seed, labor, fuel, repair and maintenance, hauling, and interest on operating capital. All weed management costs included costs for ground application. Fixed expenses were ownership costs for tractors, self-propelled equipment, implements, and the irrigation system. Costs of variable inputs and machinery were based on prices paid by Mississippi farmers each year. Irrigation costs included the cost of an engine, well, pump, gearhead, generator, fuel tank and lines, and polypipe or flood Irrigation setup. Total fixed costs of the irrigation system consisted of annual depreciation, interest on investment, and insurance. Annual depreciation was calculated using the straight-line method with zero salvage value. Annual interest charges were based on one-half of the original investment times an appropriate interest rate for each year of the study. Insurance was estimated at 1 % of the original investment. Income from each experimental unit was calculated each year using the Mississippi seasonal average soybean prices in 1992 ($5.65/bu) and 1994 ($5.60/bu), and November price in 1995 ($6.58/bu), 1996 ($6.80), 1997 ($6.79), and 1998 ($5.69). The November soybean price was highly correlated (r = 0.983) with the seasonal average price for the 1984-1993 period. In 1997, beans delivered to the elevator before Sept.15 received a price bonus that averaged $0.65/bu, and this was added to their income in the 1997 experiments. From these calculations, net returns above total specified expenses were determined for each experimental unit in each experiment each year.

ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM USING THE EARLY SEASON PRODUCTION SYSTEM

 Methods

 MG IV and V soybean varieties were planted on 15 Apr. and 27 May 1992, 21 Apr. and 13 May 1994, 18 Apr. and 9 May 1995, 30 Apr. and 15 May 1996, 9 Apr. and 12 May 1997, and 9 Apr. and 10 June 1998 in a stale seedbed. Nonirrigated and furrow-irrigated environments were used. All production inputs within a year, planting date, and irrigation environment were identical. Soybean seed were harvested on 29 Sep. and 13 Oct.1992, 14 through 28 Sep.1994, 7 Sep. through 2 Oct.1995, 13 Sep. through 7 Oct.1996, 4 Sept. through 1 Oct., 1997, and 27 Aug. through 13 Oct., 1998.

 
Results-Tables 1 & 2

In all 6 years, planting MG IV and V soybean varieties in April resulted in net returns that were greater than those resulting from May plantings of the same varieties in both non-irrigated and irrigated environments. However, yields from April plantings of some varieties were not always greater than those from May plantings.

In 1992, differences in net returns between April and May plantings were large because of the relatively high yields from both non-irrigated and irrigated April plantings.

In the April 1994 planting that was not irrigated, net returns from all varieties except DP 3499 were positive. In the non-irrigated May 1994 planting, all net returns were negative. In the 1994 planting that was irrigated, net returns from all varieties planted in April exceeded those from May plantings.

In the April 1995 planting that was not irrigated, net returns from all varieties except DP 3589 were positive. In the non-irrigated May 1995 planting, net returns from all varieties were near zero or negative. In the 1995 planting that was irrigated, yields from April- and May-planted varieties were similar, but average net returns from April-planted varieties were greater than those from May plantings.

In the April 1996 planting that was not irrigated, MG V varieties had higher yields than MG IV varieties, and net returns were greater. Average net returns from the April planting were greater. In the irrigated 1996 plantings, three of the four varieties provided higher net returns when planted in April vs. May.

In the 1997 non-irrigated plantings, yields of each variety from the April planting were similar, but net returns to some varieties were greater. In the 1997 planting that was irrigated, higher net returns from the April plantings of MG IV varieties were realized because of the higher prices received for them even though yields were not different between the two planting dates.

In the 1998 non-irrigated planting, yields of each variety from the April planting were similar and greater than yields from MG V varieties, but yields and price ($5.69/bu.) were so low that little profit resulted. Net returns from early-planted MG V varieties were negative. Yields from all varieties planted on June 10 were similar and extremely low, and resulting net returns were greatly negative. In the 1998 early planting that was irrigated, MG IV varieties were not harvested because of season-long stunting that is believed to be anomalous Canopy injury. The end result was complete loss to weeds. Yields from other plantings made on the same date and treated with only POST herbicides produced yields that were equal to or higher than yields from early plantings made in previous years and shown in Table 2. Yields from early-planted DP 3588 and Hutcheson were greatly different, and only DP 3588 yield produced a positive net return. Yields from varieties that were planted on June 10 ranged from 35.5 to 38.9 bu/acre, and net returns were nil or small.

These results indicate that planting MG IV and V varieties in April (Early Soybean Production System) will result in greater net returns in most situations in both non-irrigated and irrigated environments. These results also indicate that choosing varieties within MG IV or V can be more critical than choosing between maturity groups for varieties planted in the ESPS.

Soybeans in Mississippi Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station  Mississippi State University Extension Service Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine

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