The best time to assess soybean stands is X. To conduct soybean stand counts with your sampling hoop, follow the steps below. 

1. Toss your hoop to randomly select an area for a stand count.
2. Count the number of plants inside the hoop and multiply the number of plants by X to estimate the number of plants per acre. 
3. Repeat this at least X times at random locations throughout your field to get a good representation of the soybean plant stand. 
4. Add up your stand counts and divide by the total number of counts taken to determine an estimated average plant stand.

Conducting stand counts will allow you to assess planting performance, identify potential problems, mitigate risk, and make informed management decisions early in the season. Uneven emergence, low plant populations, or seedling damage can be identified early, allowing for investigation into the causes (planter issues, disease, pests, soil conditions at the time of planting, etc.). Ultimately, soybean stand counts can help determine if you have enough soybean plants per acre to achieve maximum yield potential.

According to Iowa State University "With early-season soybean planting, a final stand of 100,000 evenly spaced plants is a desired, but soybeans have a significant ability to branch and yield well even in thinner stands... If the emerged soybean population is significantly lower than expected, replanting or, more likely, “thickening up” soybeans may be considered."