Soybean Question

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Would I have to inoculate the seeds 1st to get better germination?

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Innoculant does nothing for germination. That is simply done to ensure the proper rhizobium bacteria is present to promote nitrogen fixation. If soybeans have been planted on the same ground before, and were innoculated, it probably isn't necessary.

If the seed is still good, you just need to plant it. You could probably take a few and do the old seed growing experiment from elementary school to test germination.

If they were feed grade soybeans it might have been because the germination on the seed was bad to begin with. Just because you bought them last year doesn’t mean that they are not a few years old. The germ goes down fast on soybeans. Take a wet paper towel and put about 9 or 10 seeds inside and roll it up. Let it set for about 2 days then unroll it and see how many germinated. As far as using inoculate, it is cheap and easy to use but if there has been soybeans in this field before in the last 3 or 4 years the bacteria are probably already present.

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Might as well inoculate though if you're going through the trouble. It's cheap and easy.

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Also not worth the expense if you are just planting the soybeans as a forage crop, no matter how cheap.

It's all about objectives. If you are trying to improve the plot, by all means, innoculating is a good practice. But if it's just for forage, there really isn't much of a point.

Depends on what they sprayed for. If they sprayed a preemergent broadleaf herbicide, you might have some diminished germination if there are any residuals present.

That’s your best bet. Tell them you are wanting to plant some soybeans and they can tell you if and when you can. There is no sense in putting that much work into something, and it was doomed to fail from the start