Dr. Jim Beuerlein Professor Ohio farmers have an opportunity to increase their productivity by double-cropping on one million acres of wheat each year. The 10 to 12 weeks of growing season that remain after wheat harvest are enough to grow a second crop of soybeans.
Careful management is required for production of a profitable second crop.
The soybean planting date is critical in determining productivity of the system. At the time of wheat harvest, the potential yield of soybeans is decreasing by at least one bushel per acre for each day that planting is delayed. Thus, every effort must be made to get the wheat harvested and the soybeans seeded as early as possible. Selecting an early-maturing wheat variety can allow for harvest five to seven days before the late varieties are ready. Wheat can be harvested when grain moisture is 18 to 20 percent with no loss of quality and will permit soybean planting to be advanced from three to five days.