OMAHA (DTN) -- A recent study led by University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Rudra Baral found forage soybeans show great promise for bridging the summer forage gap. This is good news for livestock producers who continue to face rising feed costs, unpredictable weather and seasonal forage shortages during the summer.

Baral's research shows forage soybeans can deliver high forage biomass, strong forage quality, good water use efficiency and positive economic return under rain-fed conditions, according to a news release.

PLANTING DATES MATTER

The study showed forage soybeans yielded an average of six tons per acre of dry matter when harvested at the R3 (beginning pod) growth stage. Delaying planting to early July reduced yield by 51% at the same stage, showing that planting date is one of the most important management decisions for this crop, Baral said.

Water use efficiency of 450 pounds per acre per inch of water and a net profit of around $135 per acre with a 32% return on investment was also noted.

"The crop is attractive not only for yield but also for feed value," Baral said.

Crude protein stayed relatively stable at about 19% to 21% from V3 to R3, while late planting improved forage quality by reducing fiber and lignin and increasing digestibility. Research noted forage soybean biomass was almost double under optimum planting conditions compared with late planting and the crop can reach five feet tall under good conditions.

"For Missouri, that makes forage soybeans a strong candidate for bridging the summer forage gap, especially in double-crop systems after wheat harvest," Baral said.

Forage soybeans can be used for grazing, hay, green chop or silage, and may also complement sorghum-sudangrass or pearl millet in forage rotations. It offers producers both agronomic and economic advantages because it fixes nitrogen and performs well in rain-fed systems, he said.

OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Baral said the best planting window in Missouri is mid-May to late June, with mid-May offering the strongest yield potential. Recommended planting rates are about 50 to 60 pounds per acre, or roughly 140,000 to 155,000 seeds per acre with planting depth near one inch.

Narrow rows improve forage yield and stem digestibility, and the crop is best adapted to well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, he said.

Where soybeans have not been grown recently, inoculating seed is recommended to support nodulation and nitrogen fixation.

Baral said harvest timing depends on one's goal.

For maximum biomass, harvest around the R3 stage, which is the beginning of pod formation. Earlier harvest tends to improve forage quality, while later harvest increases yield but can make stems coarser.

For grazing, forage soybeans are best used from the vegetative to early reproductive stages and should be considered a one-time or limited-grazing crop because regrowth after heavy grazing is poor to moderate, he said.

WATCH LIVESTOCK FOR BLOAT

Forage soybeans can carry a moderate bloat risk, especially in lush pure stands, so producers should manage animal health carefully. The risk is lower when it is mixed with grasses and cattle should not be turned onto it hungry or after long feed deprivation.

Bloat prevention practices include offering dry hay before turnout, using strip grazing and considering bloat prevention products when needed. Leaving 8 to 10 inches of stubble may help with some recovery, but regrowth is still much weaker than with sorghum-Sudangrass or pearl millet.

"That means forage soybean is best viewed as a high-quality summer forage or emergency feed option, not a crop for repeated heavy grazing," said Baral.

Researchers concluded forage soybeans can be a profitable, drought-resilient and flexible summer forage for the Midwest, with real potential for Missouri livestock systems.

Baral said additional livestock feeding trials and long-term soil health studies are still needed, but current results suggest the crop could play a valuable role in helping producers manage summer forage shortages.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Here are some additional resources about utilizing soybeans for forage:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/…

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/…

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/…

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @RussQuinnDTN

(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.