Roundup Ready 2 beans

[nwobcw]

My RR2 beans averaged 4-6 bushel better than RR1 beans.   Hardly worth the extra cost.   Has anybody else had a similar exoerience?

[Blacksandfarmer]

So you averaged at least $50 more an acre..... how is that not worth it? I havent planted RR2 beans yet but if I could get a $50 an acre raise why not. I priced some RR2 beans yesterday and I think they were only about  $10 more than RR1s. You would still be $40 dollars ahead.

[nwobcw]

I'm not that far from you but there must a big difference in seed prices.   I plant 213,000 seeds per acre.  At this rate my seed cost was 60 an acre for RR1 and 95 for RR2.  And 1 Dekalb variety (3830) fell flat on it's face.

[idalivered]

We had an excellent bean crop and my rr2's were good, but not any better than my best other soybeans. the claim is 7-11% better. The rr2's were asgrow 1830's that I grew for seed for monsanto.

[buckfarmer]

My rr2 beans looked great till we started harvesting.  The beans were very small and I couldn'tset the combine to not crack lots of them.  My rr1 beans were 4.2 compaired to 3.8 group on the rr2.  I think the seed dealer has a early group 4 rr2 for 2011. 

[JAS#17]

I think Blacksandfarmer is talking about 2011 seed prices.....for which Monsanto is lowering the price of the RR2.   In the scenario you have laid out, your seed price for this year was an extra $35 an acre, and you gain around $50 per acre netting you a $15 per acre return.  Not a bad return actually......next year the price is cheaper and they are rolling out alot of new RR2 varieties that should be better. 

[Blacksandfarmer]

I was talking about 2011 prices. Monsanto lowered the prices for next year on there RR2 beans. What did you pay for them this year? I plant lower seed populations than you, and Im not promoting RR2 beans but it still is a nice return on investment.

[nwobcw]

   I don't remember the exact cost per unit of the RR2 beans, just that the cost per acre was about $95 at 213K population.  RR2 beans were sold at 140K seeds per unit, not by 50# per unit as in the past.  On a side note:  For next year I'm having all seed beans treated with Innovate?   Went to a field day and the difference between treated and untreated was amazing.  One should be able to decrease population sunstantially with the treatment and end up with a good stand.

[nwobcw]

I'm leaning toward all RR2 beans for next year treated with Innovate.  I hauled the last of the beans yesterday and the RR2's overall averaged 7bpa more on an overall farm average of 54 bpa.  Best year ever in 31 years of farming.  The bean I was most impressed with, not that it was the best was Dekalb 3830, it did real good on so-so ground.

[nwobcw]

You are correct on the return this year. However this was an exceptional season in my area.  Whenever we needed rain it came thank God.  I'm definitely palntinng more RR2 beans next year, maybe all.  Now if we could have just gotten another inch in August...