It starts with ground prep, followed by seed selection, treatment, inoculation, and weed/insect control. If these cylinders are not firing properly, it is probably safe to say that opportunities to maximize yield have already been limited. If high yield is what your looking for, start at the beginning and make sure you give this seed a fighting chance. Fungicides definitely play a large part in protecting and increasing yield, if the management strategy is in place.
To coin a phase from my SAA with Winfield Solutions - "We need to quit treating our beans like a red headed step-child" When we drop 32K pop on corn and at harvest we come to expect 32K in field. If we would end up with 28K we would seriously consider changing something in the management practice. So why are we OK when we drop 180K beans and at harvest we are simply satisfied with 130K final stand. I understand yield is not dramatically affected at this pop, but what about the other 50K we left behind?
So as we approach final decisions on soybeans and corn with fungicides, ask yourself, am I giving this crop the best possible chance at yield. If so, I would now take a look at products that will help maximize yield and help take you to the next level.
