FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Delaware soybean growers showed their ability to achieve high yields once again through the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest. Earning top honors in this year’s contest was R.C. Willin of Sussex County with a yield of 96.04 bushels per acre on his full season irrigated soybeans. He achieved this yield using Channel4218 seed planted on April 23, 2021.
Other statewide winners were Chris Wyatt of Kent County in the Double Crop category, and Roger Swartzentruber in the Dryland category. Wyatt yielded 83.38 bushels per acre planting Pioneer P48A94PR seed on June 16. Swartzentruber grew 90.43 bushels per acre using Channel 3521 seed planted on April 22. Each statewide winner received $1,000 in prize money.
County winners for full season soybeans were Dale Blessing of Kent County with 92.09 bushels per acre and Mark Collins of Sussex County with 91.06 bushels per acre. Winners at the county level for double crop soybeans included Mel Wyatt of Kent County with 75.80 bushels per acre and Tim Rogers of Sussex County with 71.19 bushels per acre. No entries were received from New Castle County. County winners were awarded $250 each.
“With the addition of our weigh wagon to the contest, the board was able to complete a record number of yield checks for this year’s contest,” remarked Delaware Soybean Board Chair Cory Atkins. “We thank farmers for showcasing their ability to grow high yielding soybeans.”
The Contest, established in 2012, aims to assist in discovering varieties and management choices that work for soybean growers in Delaware. The goal of the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest is to gather data on practices incorporated in producing high soybean yields while recognizing the individuals who have achieved such yields. Over the past eight years, the contest has received over 150 entries and continues to grow each year, with farmers showcasing their ability to achieve high-yields in both full season and double-cropped soybeans on irrigated and dryland ground.
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.
2021 SOYBEAN YIELD CONTEST WINNERS
STATEWIDE WINNERS ($1,000):
Participant/County Category Yield/Variety
R.C. Willin Full Season 96.04 bu/acre
Sussex Irrigated Channel 4218
Chris Wyatt Double Crop 83.38 bu/acre
Kent Irrigated P48A94PR
Roger Swartzentruber Dryland 90.43 bu/acre
Kent Irrigated Channel 3521
COUNTY WINNERS ($250):
Participant/County Category Yield/Variety
Dale Blessing Full Season 92.09 bu/acre
Kent Irrigated Hubner 4228
Mark Collins Full Season 91.06 bu/acre
Sussex Irrigated Channel 4320
No entry Full Season
New Castle
Mel Wyatt Double Crop 75.80 bu/acre
Kent Irrigated P41T65
Tim Rogers Double Crop 71.19 bu/acre
Sussex Irrigated P48
No entry Double Crop
New Castle
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For information, contact:
Rick Davis
Yield Contest Coordinator
443-735-7234
r.davisjr@comcast.net
OR
Danielle Bauer Farace
Executive Director
Delaware Soybean Board
443-812-4526
Danielle@desoybeans.org