With soybean prices for fall delivery more than $10 per bushel, some small grain growers may be checking out new double-cropping opportunities. 

Most wheat grown south of a line that runs east and west through Indianapolis is already followed with double-crop soybeans. But some no-tillers located north of this line are taking a look at double-cropping soybeans or another crop.

Keys To Success.

Steven Aberle of Sabetha, Kan., double-crops soybeans behind wheat every year. “I’m starting to do some cover crops, so any soybeans that don’t reach maturity will be a very expensive cover crop, if nothing else,” he says.

Darren Grumbine of Lebanon, Pa., grows 45 bushels of soybeans each year behind 90-bushel wheat or 100-bushel barley. He averages 45 bushels of beans.

“One year we planted on July 15 and it still worked out for us,” he says. “All we have to lose is the cost of the seed since we’d spray for weeds anyway.”

Keith, Leon and Roy Wendte at Lemont, Ill., aren’t overly concerned about available soil moisture. They double-crop soybeans every year regardless of conditions and average 30 bushels per acre.

Sonny Parsons of West Jefferson, Ohio, stresses four keys for success with double-crop beans. “Be prompt with seeding, select the right seed, hope for a good yield and avoid an early frost,” he says.

Ben Carter at Beck’s Hybrids in Salem, Ind., maintains watching available soil moisture and the proper calendar date for seeding are both critical. “You have to have enough days before…