Second Pass Spraying on Soybeans: The Case for Post-Residuals

Planting is basically wrapped up, and next week is shaping up to be a big week for second-pass spraying on soybeans across our area. With some beans going in later this season, we've now had pre-emerge products out for six weeks or more. That’s right in line with the typical residual lifespan of most pre-emerge herbicides—and we’re starting to see some weed pressure breaking through, especially in fields where the beans are still small.

That’s why we’re making our second pass now, even though the beans haven’t quite reached the height or canopy closure we’d normally like to see. Because of this, I’ve been consistently recommending the use of a residual product in post-emerge applications. This approach not only knocks out the current flush of weeds, but also creates a weed-free window for the beans to grow and develop canopy, helping to suppress any late-season weed competition.

here are plenty of solid residual options to consider. Outlook, Warrant, and Dual are some of the most popular choices, and all do a good job of keeping weeds at bay while your beans gain height and density.

If you have any questions about adding a residual to your post-emerge soybean application—or want to learn more about specific products—reach out to your local SFG agronomist. We’d be happy to help you choose the right fit for your fields.