Kansas Soybean Yield-Contest Placers Average 77 Bushels

• Top 3 Value-Contest Entries Average 6.7% Increase •

January 9, 2020 – While a cold, stormy fall delayed harvest, further complicating late plantings and lagging crop development, the best agronomic practices and wisely selected varieties still contributed to Kansas farmers’ producing high-yielding, valuable soybeans in 2019.

“The annual Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests recognize outstanding Kansas farmers and provide fun incentives for them to improve,” said Greg Strube, Horton, who chairs the Kansas Soybean Association (KSA) contests committee. “They also allow our association, thanks to checkoff funding from the Kansas Soybean Commission, to share what participants learned to benefit all Kansas soybean farmers.”

LarMar Inc., Robinson, led the dryland division with a no-till entry of 94.01 bushels per acre. Love & Love Farms, Montezuma, topped the statewide irrigated division with a no-till entry that made 88.82 bushels per acre. Longenecker Farm, Abilene, won the value contest with 66.4 cents per bushel of increased value (7.2% over the cash price). This year, for the first time, the highest protein content also earned special recognition, and that went to Chris Bodenhausen, Muscotah, whose entry was 37.3% protein.

The yield contest included 25 entries, down four from 2018. The 22 winners in 11 categories had verified yields averaging 77.20 bushels per acre, compared to the reported state average of 44 bushels per acre in 2019. The contest winners’ average decreased by 4.67 bushels per acre, while the state average increased 1 bushel per acre from 2018.

The value contest had 18 entries, three fewer than in the previous year. For their combined protein and oil contents, the top three entries averaged 62.1 cents (6.7%) in increased value over the $9.24 base cash price. In 2018, that average was 99.3 cents (11.5%) above an $8.60 cash price.

From north-northeastern Kansas, Laus Creek Farm, Hiawatha, placed second to LarMar Inc. (Robinson) in the district no-till, dryland competition with 92.65 bushels per acre. Michael Oltjen, Robinson, placed third with 85.88 bushels per acre.

From northeastern Kansas, Kenny Wilson, Horton, led the district conventional-tillage, dryland competition with 84.62 bushels per acre. Derek Gigstad, Valley Falls, placed second with 76.40 bushels per acre. Greg and Michelle Strube, Horton, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 90.48 bushels per acre. Menold Bros. Inc., Hiawatha, placed second with 89.40 bushels per acre. Chris Bodenhausen, Muscotah, placed third with 85.53 bushels per acre. Grimm Bros., Morrill, won the statewide conventional tillage, irrigated division with 85.70 bushels per acre.

In north-central Kansas, Ryan Stewart, Washington, won the district conventional-tillage, dryland competition with 74.36 bushels per acre, and Rod Stewart, Washington, placed a close second with 74.14 bushels per acre. Gregg Sexton, Abilene, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 71.95 bushels per acre. Lee Pifer, Washington, placed second with 67.41 bushels per acre. Adelbert Stewart, Washington, placed third with 66.19 bushels per acre. Gareth Pettijohn, Solomon, placed third in the value contest with 59.6 cents per bushel (6.5%) of increased value.

Robert Litch, Melvern, won the east central district no-till, dryland competition with 73.32 bushels per acre.

In southeastern Kansas, Bradley and Emily McVey, Fredonia, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 66.76 bushels per acre.

From south-central Kansas, Seiler Farms, Colwich, won the district conventional tillage, dryland competition with 78.26 bushels per acre. Justin McGonigle, Sedgwick, placed second with 75.21 bushels per acre. Hill Farms, Benton, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 41.34 bushels per acre.

In southwestern Kansas, John Bergkamp, Garden City, placed second to Love & Love Farms (Montezuma) in the statewide no-till, irrigated division with 84.53 bushels per acre.

From northwestern Kansas, RTC Farms LLC, Norton, placed third in the statewide no-till, irrigated division with 83.44 bushels per acre. Jeff Wessel, Selden, placed second in the value contest with 60.1 cents per bushel (6.5%) of increased value.

KSA presented the state and district winners with plaques or certificates and monetary prizes from the Kansas Soybean Commission at the Kansas Soybean Expo, Jan. 8 in Topeka. The highest dryland and irrigated yields in the state each received a $1,000 award. In each district, first place won $300, second earned $200, and third received $100.

Complete results and award photos should be available via https://KansasSoybeans.org/‌contests on the web by Jan. 15.

The Kansas Soybean Association, headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate on local, state, national and international issues of importance to Kansas’ 16,000 soybean farms. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of farmers and industry supporters. It also is the primary, administrative contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.

The Kansas Soybean Commission, established in 1977, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who are elected by their peers. They oversee investments of the legislated “soybean checkoff” assessment in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profit opportunities for all Kansas soybean farmers.

For more information, contact Communications Director Brad Parker.
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