Soybeans are planted on more acres than any other row crop in Tennessee, with over 1 million acres grown annually (production map).  Each year, soybeans rank in the top three for cash receipts for row crops.  In 2007, soybean acreage decreased slightly to 1.1 million acres, due to an increase in corn acres planted.  Soybean yield in most counties suffered from early and extended dry weather which caused moderate to severe yield reduction.   At final harvest, statewide yield was lowest in more than 20 years at 18 bushels per acre.  With strong current soybean prices, acreage is expected to to increase to 1.2 to 1.3 million acres in 2008.

Most soybeans are grown in western and middle Tennessee counties without benefit of irrigation and over 80% are grown in a no-till or conservation tillage system.  Approximately 30% of soybean acres are double cropped after wheat.  Less than 50% of soybeans grown are maturity Group V soybeans with  Group III and especially Group IV soybeans increasing strongly in acreage over the past few years.  Yields are heavily dependent on available moisture. 

There is increased interest in integrating Group III and Group IV varieties into production systems.   Incorporating these early maturing varieties could help spread risk associated with moisture availability and time of harvest, and allow soybeans to be planted as early as mid-late April, given optimal temperature and moisture conditions.  The University of Tennessee continues to evaluate early maturity and specialty soybeans to identify those that have the best fit for Tennessee conditions.