AUSTIN, Texas (DTN) -- Possible hybrid seed corn shortages are grabbing headlines, but the same early wet/late dry weather in 2011 that reduced seed corn production also has affected soybean seed.

"In Iowa, soybean seed germination may not be as high as normal," noted Matt Danner, grain and hog farmer in Templeton, Iowa.

"Farmers need to double check the germination tag on their seed this spring and adjust their planter. Instead of a normal 98% germ, they may find 92% germ on this year's soybean seed tag. That may mean ramping up your per-acre seed count to get an optimum stand," Danner advised.

Soybean farmers in the Western Corn Belt will also have to tweak their planters to handle smaller soybean seed size. "This winter, we hauled some seed beans that were only 6% moisture," said Danner. "That was the lowest moisture beans we saw, but it is indicative of the low-moisture soybeans we had this fall and also the small seed size." Some bean planters handle small seed size better than others. "But the main thing is you can't plant soybeans this year the way you have in the past -- you won't get the stand," said Danner.

Not everyone is worried about soybean germ. "In the Eastern Corn Belt, soybean germination shouldn't be a big problem," said Wade Wiley, farm business lead for Becks Hybrids in Atlanta, Ind.

In the South, "we had a good year for soybean seed. There won't be any major problems in quality soybean seed availability in the South in 2012," said Trey Koger, Syngenta crop specialist based in Indianola, Miss. "It's a different story for corn seed availability, but for soybeans, we'll be fine," Koger added.

In North Dakota, which also had a dry fall, "the seed company we work with, prides itself on not selling any soybean seed less than 94% germination," said Mark Belter, corn/soybean/wheat farmer in Leonard, North Dakota. "And my seed dealer said he doesn't see any potential problems with seed beans this spring."

For more information on seed supplies and issues, see the "Seed Outlook" series stories found in the "Recent Features" section on the DTN subscription web site at http://online.dtn.com/… and on satellite products.

Elizabeth Williams can be reached at fjecwilliams@msn.com

(GH/SK)

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