Soybean yield contest winners announced

The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Association has announced the winners of the 2023 Grow for the Green Soybean Yield Contest. The contest divides state soybean producers into nine groups, seven geographic regions, one all-state conventional (non-GMO) category and a Champions Category consisting of all previous 100-bushel winners. Cash prizes were awarded to the top 3 in each division achieving a minimum of 60 Bu/A with the exception of the Champions.

The Race for 100 Yield Contest began in 2007, and in 2013, the first three producers reached the goal. The newest members of the 100-bushel club are Jeff Wells and Mark Williams. Over the years the average yield of those who enter the contest has increased. In 2023, almost half of those reporting harvest yields were over 90 bushels per acre.

“I continue to be genuinely impressed by the incredibly high-achieving performance that our soybean producers manage to accomplish year after year. This year is no exception,” said Derek Helms, a farmer from Clark County and Arkansas Soybean Association president. “This contest not only helps our mission to improve the agronomic practices of producers in Arkansas, it also serves as a platform to showcase the innovation and industry leadership consistently demonstrated by our producers across the state.”

The Grow for the Green Yield Soybean Yield Challenge is funded by the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board using producer checkoff funds. The contests are administered by the Arkansas Soybean Association in cooperation with the University of Arkansas System Division Of Agriculture. Complete contest harvest information is available on the websites of the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board and the Arkansas Soybean Association.

Divison winners:

Northeast Delta – Casey Hook and Roger Reddick
Northeast – Mark Williams, Adam Fisher and Nick Ragsdell
White River Basin – Richard Walker, Isaac Davis, and Terry Fuller
Central/Grand Prairie – David Strohl and Taylor Burdett
East Central Delta – Allen Culp, Blake Culp and Parker Rohrscheib
Southeast Delta- John Allen McGraw
Western – Blake Mans, Ronnie Cross and Justin Crow
Conventional – Dennis Stephens
Champions Group – Tim Fisher