When the days get shorter and temperatures start to cool, leaves on soybean plants slowly turn yellow. By mid-October and November, these leaves turn brown and fall off, leaving the mature soybean pods behind, ready for harvest.

How long can soybeans stay in the field?

Under average weather conditions, soybean will reach 13 percent moisture in about 12 days following maturity. However, if weather conditions are conducive, grain dry down can be achieved in as early as nine days after maturity.

What do soybeans look like when ready to harvest?

What Do Mature Soybeans Look Like? Fully mature soybean pods should be gray, tan or brown, but the seed should not be rattling loose in the pod. A mature crop that is ready for commercial harvest will have individual seeds or beans that are firm and oval-shaped. The moisture content of these beans will be about 13%.