FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DSB Chair Cory Atkins along with 2022 contest winner Dylan Tull.

The Delaware Soybean Board recognized two farmers who achieved new record soybean yields at Delaware Ag Week on Thursday in Harrington. Dylan Tull of Sussex County achieved the new state-wide record of 96.99 bushels per acre with full season soybeans planted April 29 using Stine 39EC20. Kevin Evans closely followed with another record-breaking yield of 96.33 bu/ac, also full season Stine 39EC20, earning him the title of Sussex County winner in the Full Season division. The previous record of 96.04 bu/ac was held by R.C. Willin of Sussex County.

Other state winners recognized were Mel Wyatt, achieving a yield of 75.93 bu/ac with Pioneer P36A83 variety planted following rye on June 24 in the Double Crop division, and Dale Blessing reaching 80.33 bu/ac in the Non-Irrigated division planted June 3 using Hubner 4228.

Additional county winners were Phillip Sylvester of Kent County in the Full Season division, with a yield of 90.47 bu/ac planting Hubner 4228, Mel Wyatt Jr. of Kent County in the Double Crop division, reaching 71.21 bu/ac using Pioneer P36A83, Robbie Emerson of New Castle County in the Double Crop division, achieving 73.55 with Pioneer P37T51, and Fred West III of Sussex County in the Double Crop Division, growing 67.75 bu/ac using 48A94. No entries were received in the Full Season division from New Castle County.

“The 2022 growing season marked the 10th anniversary of the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest,” remarked Cory Atkins, Delaware Soybean Board Chair. “Over the years, Delaware soybean growers have proven that bin-busting yields are possible in the First State, and have provided data for their fellow farmers to improve production methods.”

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. To date, the contest has received over 160 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 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:

Danielle Bauer Farace
Executive Director
Delaware Soybean Board
443-812-4526
Danielle@desoybeans.org