The best farming practices, wisely selected seedstock varieties and a favorable growing season helped Kansas farmers produce high-yielding, valuable soybeans in 2016.
“The annual Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests recognize outstanding Kansas farmers and provide fun incentives for them to improve,” said Doug Shoup, Ph.D., Parsons, K-State Research and Extension Southeast Area agronomist, who is completing his third year as the contests coordinator. “They also allow the Kansas Soybean Association, with checkoff funding from the Kansas Soybean Commission, to share what participants learned to benefit all Kansas soybean farmers.”
The yield contest included 52 entries, down two from 2015. The 30 winners in 11 categories had verified yields averaging 81.01 bushels per acre, compared to the reported state average of 48 bushels per acre in 2016. The contest winners’ average increased by 6.6 bushels per acre, while the state average increased 10 bushels per acre from 2015.
The value contest had 22 entries, four fewer than in the previous year. For their protein and oil contents, the top three entries averaged 77.6 cents (8 percent) in increased value over the $9.68 base cash price. In 2015, that average was 61 cents (7.1 percent) above an $8.66 cash price.
Ernest Schlatter, Lebanon, topped the dryland division with a no-till entry that made 95.95 bushels per acre. Calvin Yoder, Hutchinson, led the irrigated division with a conventional-tillage entry of 93.79 bushels per acre. Henry Farms, Robinson, won the value contest with 80.3 cents per bushel of increased value (8.3 percent over the cash price).
From north-northeastern Kansas, Jeschke Farms LLC, Highland, took first place in the district conventional-tillage, dryland competition with 85.78 bushels per acre. David Olson, Hiawatha, placed second with 84.16 bushels per acre and second in the Kansas Soybean Value Contest with 77.2 cents per bushel (8.0 percent) of increased value. Brad McCauley, White Cloud, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 90.78 bushels per acre. Grant Gladhart, Highland, took second place with 83.01 bushels per acre. Lar MAR Inc., Robinson, placed third with 78.86 bushels per acre.
In northeastern Kansas, Kenny Wilson, Horton, won the district conventional-tillage, dryland competition with 87.61 bushels per acre. Parallel Farms, Whiting, took second place with 85.03 bushels per acre. Chris Bodenhausen, Muscotah, placed third with 82.42 bushels per acre. Summit Farms, Morrill, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 83.69 bushels per acre. William (Alex) Noll, Winchester, placed second with 75.29 bushels per acre.
From north-central Kansas, Ryan Stewart, Washington, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 71.11 bushels per acre. Gregg Sexton, Abilene, took second place with 70.27 bushels per acre. Came Farms, Salina, placed third with 68.31 bushels per acre. Bob Wietharn, Clay Center, took second place in the statewide no-till, irrigated competition with 84.90 bushels per acre. Mark Pettijohn, Solomon, placed third in the Kansas Soybean Value Contest with 75.2 cents per bushel (7.8 percent) of increased value.
In east-central Kansas, Meats Farms, LeRoy, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 75.63 bushels per acre. Ryan Louia, LeRoy, took second place with 71.42 bushels per acre. Robert Litch, Melvern, placed third with 65.03 bushels per acre.
In southeastern Kansas, Cummings Farms, Yates Center, won the district conventional-tillage, dryland competition with 77.90 bushels per acre. Timmons Brothers Farms, Fredonia, took second place with 74.19 bushels per acre. Dustin Oehme, Pittsburg, placed third with 71.94 bushels per acre. Dennis Hill, Benton, won the district no-till, dryland competition with 87.33 bushels per acre. Oehme Farms, Pittsburg, took second place with 69.57 bushels per acre.
From south-central Kansas, behind Yoder (Hutchinson), Sam Miller, Haven, took second place in the statewide conventional-tillage, irrigated competition with 91.50 bushels per acre. Richard Seck, Hutchinson, won the statewide no-till, irrigated competition with 88.53 bushels per acre.
From northwestern Kansas, behind Schlatter (Lebanon), Mike McClellan and Cade Beesley of McClellan Farms, Palco, took second place in the district no-till, dryland competition with 91.49 bushels per acre. Carla Naasz Schlatter, Lebanon, placed third with 78.34 bushels per acre. Roger Johnson, Hoxie, placed third in the statewide conventional-tillage, irrigated competition with 83.83 bushels per acre. Harold Koster, Hoxie, placed third in the statewide no-till, irrigated competition with 81.18 bushels per acre.
The Kansas Soybean Association presented the state and district winners with plaques or certificates and monetary prizes from the Kansas Soybean Commission at the Kansas Soybean Expo, Jan. 11 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. The No-till on the Plains organization supplied additional prizes for the no-till categories.
Complete results and award photos are available via http://KansasSoybeans.org/contests on the web
