Soybean Yield Contest Winners Hit Triple Digits

by | Feb 2, 2016 | HAT News Feed

Hoosier Ag Today by: Andy Eubank

Triple digit soybean yields

Dipal Chaudhari-AsgrowWant to see some amazing soybean yields? Thirteen farmers in the Asgrow Yield Contest posted over 100 bushel per acre yields topping out with Maryland farmer John Rigdon and his 134.5 bushels total. Indiana’s Craig Small from Monroe City in Knox County registered 108.1 bushels with AG3832 Brand soybeans, and with that same variety George Corya of Commiskey in Jennings County hit 104 ½.

Dipal Chaudhari, ‎Asgrow Brand Manager at Monsanto says the triple digit yields are important benchmarks especially where the varieties were new in 2015.

“That sets the bar,” he explained. “We always talk about our latest products have the latest genetics which is setting the bar, raising the bar for yield expectations, and this is proof in the pudding that we’re continuing to do that. As we go into ’16 we’re really excited to see these products become our Rock Star products that are delivering that yield.”

Chaudhari talked to farmers who achieved 100 + yields and there were some keys to making it happen.

“They would say it’s early planting. They got out there in early April, and that’s not always possible so it’s the cards that we’re dealt with from Mother Nature that we have to work with. It’s specifically placing those varieties where they need to be in terms of the field conditions, in terms of what they’re facing, and they say they really work closely with their dealer and DSM to understand that product’s characteristics and how that fits the field. And then there’s managing it throughout the season, whether it’s fertility or fungicide, whatever the case may be, and they’re able to manage that throughout the season which really helps them setup for success.”

His advice to farmers wanting better soybean yields is to give the bean crop the same management attention as corn.

“In the Midwest we tend to focus a lot on corn and we don’t bat an eye to spend say an hour, two hours talking about corn and corn placement when we go to talk to farmers during selling season,” he told HAT. “Then we spend about 15-20 minutes talking about the soybean varieties. But the moment we can spend more time on soybeans and give it the same attention from a management standpoint, the quicker we’ll get to the 3 digits.”

Yield contest winners will be honored at Commodity Classic in March in New Orleans with an awards banquet and private concert featuring country star Easton Corbin.

Powered by WPeMatico