Manager Advised Early Soybean Weed Control

Farmers are encouraged to begin their weed management planning for the 2027 season to avoid significant financial losses.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Agriculture

Close-up of vibrant green soybean sprouts emerging from dark, tilled soil in an expansive field under warm morning sunlight. — Golden Harvest manager Clay Cole advises soybean farmers to implement proactive weed control strategies early to maximize 2027 seasonal yields. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Is now the right time to start planning your weed control for next year's crops?

Golden Harvest manager Clay Cole has advised farmers to begin planning for weed control ahead of the 2027 soybean season. This guidance follows data indicating that uncontrolled weed growth can severely impact seasonal yields.

Why it matters

Protecting crops during the early growth stages is essential to preventing substantial financial losses. Weed management planning allows growers to safeguard their productivity before the spring planting season begins.

Uncontrolled weed growth results in losses of 2.5 to 5.5 bushels per acre per day, equating to a minimum financial loss of $30 per acre daily. The V1 through V3 growth stage remains the most critical phase for protecting soybean yields.

The players

Clay Cole

He is a manager at Golden Harvest who provided guidance on soybean weed control strategies.

Golden Harvest

This agricultural company produces soybean varieties and provides management expertise for farmers.

Michigan State University

This institution conducts agricultural research, including studies on crop yield impacts from weed growth.

The details

Effective management requires a proactive strategy that addresses potential weed growth long before planting begins. Growers should specifically focus their protective efforts on the V1 through V3 growth stages to ensure the health of their soybean crops.

Clay Cole participated in the Farm Progress Show in 2026.
Golden Harvest plans to offer new soybean varieties featuring Enlist E3 and Expanse traits by the 2029 growing season.

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Market Landscape

This guidance fits into the long-standing efforts by Michigan State University's crop weed interference studies to quantify the economic impact of invasive plants on domestic agriculture. The advisory follows the established pattern of integrating university research into broader industry best practices.

Farmers can protect their profit margins by prioritizing weed control during the critical V1 through V3 growth stages. Implementing these management plans early may prevent daily losses of at least $30 per acre throughout the season.

The takeaway

Proactive planning is the most effective way to mitigate the significant financial impact of weed growth on soybean yields. Farmers who focus on the early development stages of their crops can better secure their overall harvest profitability.