Extract from 
Supplementary Feed Crops for 1935 
GEO. M. BRIGGS 
by courtesy of 
Extension Service of the College of Agriculture, The University of Wisconsin, Madison 
W HEN THE regular hay acreage is short or has been im¬ 
paired by freezing, some of the following crops can 
be grown. 
Soybeans Are Popular 
Soybean hay is about equal to alfalfa in feeding value and 
ready to harvest the same season it is planted. This crop 
is adapted best to soils and seasons when and where corn 
does well and no special machinery is required for planting, 
caring for, or harvesting the crop. 
One and one-half to three tons of soybean hay can be 
harvested to the acre. The yield will depend upon the fer¬ 
tility of the soil, moisture, and good growing weather. The 
lighter yields come only from unfertilized, runout soils or 
where weeds are not controlled. 
Soybeans are adapted to most soils. While they are not 
sensitive to acidity, yet they do best if lime is plentiful. The 
plant thrives on low soils but if they are limited in potash 
a small amount of manure or an application of 100 to 150 
pounds an acre of a potash fertilizer is desirable. 
The soybean is a double purpose crop. It can be used as 
a “pinch hitter” when alfalfa fails as a field or in spots; and 
is oftentimes used after an early crop of peas or after an 
early crop of hay has been harvested. Corn planting time is 
the proper time for planting soybeans. The later planting 
will not result in aa high yields but will allow for weed kill¬ 
ing before planting. 
Suggestions on Planting 
On clean soils or on new or soddy fields, solid planting 
with grain drifl requires less labor, and results in a good 
qualitv hay. On old, weedy or thin soils, planting in rows 
with a grain drill with some spouts closed, or with a sugar 
beet drill, or with a corn planter, at regular width or nar¬ 
rowed down, insures as high yield of cleaner hay at less ex¬ 
pense of seed than would be obtained if planted solid. In 
planting solid, use at least two bushels of seed to the acre. 
In planting in rows, 30 to 60 pounds are required, depending 
upon the distance between rows. 
First, plant shallow, about as one would for corn. 
Second, inoculate the seed for increasing yields, and qual¬ 
ity of hay and fertility of soil. Third, use good seed. If 
doubtful, test. Fourth, use enough seed. Drop soybeans 
1 to P /2 inches apart in the row—the heavier the soil the 
closer together. 
Plant soybeans on a well-prepared seed-bed as for corn. 
Use the common grain drill when planting solid, and in plant¬ 
ing in rows use a corn planter, beet drill, or grain drill with 
some spouts closed. Delayed planting in order to prepare 
a seed bed better is preferable to planting early on an unpre¬ 
pared weedy seed bed. When the plants are three to five 
inches high the use of a rotary hoe or common harrow cross¬ 
wise or diagonally of the field after morning dew is off, 
breaks up the crust and destroys many small weeds. 
Made Like Any Other Hay 
A high quality of hay is made from soybeans at almost any 
time in their growth. It is best not to let them ripen too much 
before cutting for hay. However, as long as the leaves do 
not dry off perhaps the value of the crop as hay has not been 
impaired if pods show some good sized beans. 
In making soybean hay, good curing weather is just as 
important as the stage of maturity. Cutting soybeans before 
the last week in August gives better assurance of suitable 
drying weather. The best hay is made when the pods are full 
size, but only small beans in them, and when the leaves are 
all grean and still adhering to the plant. On late planted 
fields or in later maturing varieties, the plant may be in the 
blossom stage at proper cutting time. 
Soybean hay is handled like any other hay crop with 
mower, side delivery rake, and hay loader. Some farmers 
prefer curing the hay in cocks, leaving it ten days or longer. 
In heavy crops and in late cuttings it may need to lay in the 
swath a day or more longer than lighter yielding hays and 
early cut crops. 
To prevent leaves from shattering, any handling of the crop 
can best be done in the forenoon just after the surplus dew 
has dried off. If put in cocks while leafy, rains will not enter 
to any great extent and a fine palatable hay will result even 
if it is left cut for ten days or longer. As with other hays 
cured in cocks, turning these cocks over a few hours before 
hauling is beneficial. 
The use of a binder in cutting soybeans and shocking in 
long shocks, of four to six bundles, is meeting favor. If 
weather remains damp at harvest time, mowing in barn is 
essential and it often might be wise to stack out doors in 
narrow stacks, having protection of other hay over the stack. 
Use This 
Post Card 
For S eed Or Inoculation 
Orders 
Be sure to specify size and 
variety of inoculation required 
Cut out along dotted line 
Business Reply Card 
No Postage Stamp Necessary If Mailed In The United States 
FIRST CLASS 
PERMIT NO. 1488 
[Sec. 384% P. L. 8cR.] 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
2c.-POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY— 
THE ALBERT DICKINSON CO. 
Lock Drawer 788 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
Illlllllllllllli! 
