Top entry in 2024 Kansas Soybean Yield Contest breaks previous state record by double digits
Previous Kansas Soybean Value Contest winner takes top honors once more
An earlier contest deadline and intermittent weather challenges did not keep growers across Kansas from entering their soybeans in the 2024 Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests, which maintained strong participation from varying regions. A total of 56 unique entries made their way into the contests – 35 submitted for value analysis and 36 submitted for yield placement. Fifteen first-time participants entered their crop.
McClain Family Farms LLC of Phillips County submitted the highest-yielding entry in the contest with a new state record 126.6 bushels per acre. The previous state record of 114.3 was set in 2020 by Sam Miller of Reno County. McClain’s Channel 2823RFX soybeans were entered in the statewide no-till, irrigated division of the contest.
Haug Family Farms LLC, Nemaha County, submitted the top dryland entry of the yield contest. The Golden Harvest 3913XF soybeans made 96.9 bushels per acre.
Lyle Longenecker of Dickinson County, a familiar name at the top of the value contest, took home the top prize once more with an entry of Beck’s Hybrids soybeans that earned a premium of $0.96 over cash value.
In the north-northeast conventional-till dryland division, Jesse and Kaley Clark, Brown County, submitted a 96.7 bushel-per-acre entry to take first place. Kyle Jeschke, Doniphan County, earned second place in the division with 96.2 bushel-per-acre soybeans. Gary Diveley, Doniphan County, took third place with 90.7 bushels per acre.
The north-northeast no-till dryland division had a lone entrant. Henry Farms, Inc., Brown County, entered 81.9 bushel-per-acre soybeans to claim first.
Earning first in the northeast conventional-till dryland division, Wilson Family Farms, Atchison County, submitted a 79.1 bushel-per-acre entry. Rod Bigham, Jefferson County, followed in second place with a 78.2 bushel-per-acre yield.
The northeast no-till dryland division had seven participants vying for the top spot. The Haug Family Farms LLC entry that took top dryland honors claimed first in the division. In second place, Parallel Farms of Jackson County entered a yield of 95.5 bushels per acre. John Koelzer, Nemaha County, submitted a 90.6 bushel-per-acre entry to earn third place.
In the east central no-till dryland division, Robert Litch, Osage County, earned first place with 69.2 bushels per acre. Brandon Litch, Osage County, took second place with 67.6 bushel-per-acre soybeans.
Hudson Farms, Neosho County, submitted a 60.8 bushel-per-acre yield to claim the top spot in the southeast conventional-till dryland division. Bellar Brothers, Labette County, took second place with an entry of 55 bushels per acre.
The southeast no-till dryland division’s top spot went to Geffert Farms, Allen County, with an entry of 53.2 bushels per acre. Jared Nash, Labette County, earned second place with 50.6 bushel-per-acre soybeans.
Don Applegate of Sumner County, the sole entrant in the south central conventional-till division, submitted a 37.4 bushel-per-acre entry for first.
In the south central no-till dryland division, Aaron Pauly of Sedgwick County submitted 89.5 bushel-per-acre soybeans to claim first place.
In the north central conventional-till dryland division, Stewart Family Farms/Rod Stewart, Washington County, earned first place with 62.5 bushel-per-acre soybeans.
Stewart Family Farms/Ryan Stewart, Washington County, took the top spot in the north central no-till dryland division with an entry of 63.5 bushels per acre.
Rounding out dryland entries in the 2024 Yield Contest, Lauren Kats of Phillips County won the northwest no-till dryland division with 31.9 bushels per acre.
Irrigated entries fall into a statewide no-till or conventional-till division. The entry from McClain Family Farms LLC earned top honors in the no-till irrigated division. Robbie Yost, Gray County, took second place with a yield of 96.4 bushels per acre. Olson Family Farms, Brown County, received third place with a yield of 95.1 bushels per acre.
In the conventional-till irrigated division, Tri H Farms of Meade County submitted an entry of 104.2 bushels per acre to earn first place. Arganbright Farms, Marshall County, took second place with a yield of 101.6 bushels per acre. Craig Gigstad, Jefferson County, rounds out the division at 96.2 bushels per acre.
The Value Contest analyzes a 20-ounce sample of soybeans and calculates a premium over-cash-value price based on protein and oil content and other value-added qualities.
Following Longenecker’s top value entry, two entries tied for second place. Kathy Heiniger, Brown County, and Stewart Family Farms, Washington County, submitted soybeans with a $0.92 premium over cash value.
The Kansas Soybean Commission provides monetary awards to finalists each year. The highest dryland and irrigated yields in the state each receive a $1,000 award. In each district and the value contest, first place receives $300, second receives $200, and third receives $100.
Placement prizes are set to be awarded at the inaugural Kansas Soybean Celebration January 31 in Salina. Full contest results are available at www.kansassoybeans.org/contests.