Blessing Statewide(HARRINGTON, DELAWARE) – Dale Blessing of Harrington won the statewide full season soybean yield contest and a $1,000 prize with 82.08 bushels per acre of irrigated beans, the Delaware Soybean Board (DSB) announced Jan. 14.

Fred West of Laurel was the statewide double crop soybean yield winner with 74.15 bushels per acre, also winning a $1,000 prize.

The soybean board runs the contest to gather data on production practices and to recognize growers who have achieved high yields.

“In 2015 we had an excellent growing season and that, combined with the skill of these growers, lead to these outstanding yields,” said Jay Baxter, a farmer from Georgetown and DSB chairman. “We want to encourage all growers to participate.”

County winners in the contest included Howard Clendaniel of Sussex County with 80.17 bushels per acre of dryland full season beans; Kevin Evans of Sussex County with 71.49 bushels per acre of irrigated double crop beans, and Dale Scuse of Kent County with 65.15 bushels per acre of irrigated full season beans. Each of the county winners received a $250 prize. There were no entries for double crop beans in Kent Count and no entries from New Castle County.

The Delaware Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The funds are collected for soybean research, marketing and education projects.

Delaware farmers plant about 180,000 acres of soybeans each year, and the crop generates approximately $60 million in value to the state. Delaware’s agricultural industry contributes about $8 billion per year to the Delaware economy.

The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture, and administers the federal soybean checkoff programs in the state. Under the soybean checkoff, one half of one percent of the net market value of soybeans is assessed at the first point of sale to support research, marketing and education programs to benefit the soybean industry.