FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Left to right: Delaware Soybean Board Directors Kellie Yeagar and Matt Szelestei recognize Mark Collins as the 2023 Delaware Soybean Yield Contest winner.
Mark Collins of DMC Farms in Laurel took top honors in the 2023 Delaware Soybean Yield Contest, setting a new record yield for the contest of 98.91 bushels per acre with full season soybeans planted May 10 using Pioneer P37T51PR. The previous record was set last year by Dylan Tull of Sussex County with a yield of 96.99 bu/ac.
Also recognized as a statewide winner was Kevin Evans of Sussex County who achieved a yield of 77.13 bu/ac with Dynagro 39EN19 in the non-irrigated division. Additional county winners were Blaine Hitchens of Sussex County with a yield of 90.67 bu/ac planting Channel 3823RXF, and John Comegys of Kent County with a yield of 69.66 using Seed Consultants 7421E. No entries were received from New Castle County, or in the double crop division.
“Now in it’s eleventh year, the Delaware Soybean Yield contest continues to showcase Delaware soybean grower’s ability to achieve high yields,” says Delaware Soybean Board Chair Tim Rogers. “Year-after-year, we are seeing new records, demonstrating the progress of First State farmers.”
Established by the Delaware Soybean Board in 2012, the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest is an opportunity for growers to discover varieties and management choices that have proven successful in local fields. Prior to the presentation of contest awards during Delaware Ag Week, Dr. Jarrod Miller, University of Delaware Extension Specialist in Agronomy, presented findings of data gathered from the contest during its first ten years in existence. To date, the contest has received over 170 entries, recognizing grower success in both full season and double-cropped soybeans on irrigated and non-irrigated acres.
Full contest information and results summary can be found on the DSB website at https://desoybeans.org/yield-contest/.
Delaware farmers plant about 150,000 acres of soybeans annually, producing over seven million bushels of beans and generating approximately $60 million in value to the state. The Delaware Soybean Board consists of nine farmer-directors and the Secretary of Agriculture. Funded through a one-half of one percent assessment on the net market value of soybeans at their first point of sale, the checkoff works with partners in the value chain to identify and capture opportunities that increase farmer profit potential.
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For information, contact:
Steve Breeding
Yield Contest Coordinator
302-381-6129
spbreeding@gmail.com
OR
Danielle Bauer Farace
Executive Director
Delaware Soybean Board
443-812-4526
Danielle@desoybeans.org