The Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
Research Report 718
December 2008
2008 SOYBEAN, SORGHUM GRAIN AND SILAGE,
SUMMER ANNUAL FORAGES, AND SUNFLOWER
PERFORMANCE TESTS
J. LaDon Day, Anton E. Coy, and John D. Gassett, Editors
The Season
Although the drought gripping Georgia that began in 2006 continued for the third
straight year, the 2008 summer row crop seasonal planting progressed normally in
some areas. Within other areas the dry spring caused planting progress to be much
slower than normal. Above normal summer time temperatures (especially during the
very hot first two weeks of June) and drought conditions took their toll on the dryland
crops. However, areas across the southern third of the Coastal Plain received some
beneficial tropical storm rainfall. Greater amounts of irrigation were needed to produce
what turned out to be a good year for Georgia producers.
Rainfall during the season was 9 to 13 inches below long term averages at the row
crop variety test locations in the Piedmont and North Georgia as listed below; however,
hurricane Fay dropped heavy rains on the Coastal Plain region in late August, thus the
season total in this area was at or near normal.
2008 Rainfall1
Month
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Total
Normal (9 mo)
1.
2.
3.
4.
2
3
Athens
Calhoun
Griffin
Midville
Plains
Tifton
------------------------------------------ inches ------------------------------------------3.02
3.74
2.55
3.82
3.18
3.17
2.71
3.85
3.67
3.91
3.66
3.02
3.05
4.39
2.73
3.65
1.82
1.83
0.91
0.84
3.96
0.61
2.93
2.28
3.32
4.13
2.18
4.37
2.76
3.31
3.43
4.39
4.54
6.31
11.77
12.32
0.13
1.47
0.68
0.60
1.61
0.16
4.02
3.04
4.36
2.10
3.88
6.41
2.89
2.46
3.10
3.78
4.08
3.88
23.48
28.31
27.77
29.15
35.69
36.38
36.76
38.89
36.77
33.95
35.29
35.11
Georgia data provided in part by Dr. G. Hoogenboom, Georgia Station, Griffin, GA.
Plant Sciences Farm.
Floyd County location.
University of Florida, North Florida Research & Education Center, Marianna, FL.
Most crop commodity acres increased this growing season, one dramatically.
Soybean producers planted 430,000 acres, an increase of 46% over last year and the
most in 14 years; further, this acreage was 275,000 more than two years ago. Forage
acreage increased 5% during 2008 while grain sorghum decreased 8%.
J. LaDon Day is program coordinator of the state variety testing program and John D. Gassett is a research professional II in
the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Griffin Campus, Griffin, GA 30223-1797. Anton E. Coy is senior agricultural
specialist in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Tifton Campus, Tifton, GA 31793-0748.
Crop maturity progressed at the 5-year average but harvest was delayed due to wet
weather during late fall. Even though droughty growing conditions persisted during
most of the growing season, overall crop production was better than expected.
Soybean state per acre yield of 30 bushels matched last year, but production increased
almost 4 million bushels due to the increase in acreage. Forage production increased
16% over last year. Although producers received higher prices for their commodities
this year, the steep increase in production costs reduced profit margins (related mainly
to higher energy prices).
Soybean rust was again found in south Georgia this growing season, but as in 2007
did not spread into a limiting factor. Apparently, due to the hot weather conditions, the
rust did not develop into a major problem this summer but remains a very serious threat
to soybean production in the state.