In 2018, 24 growers entered the North Carolina Soybean Yield Contest, down from 62 entries in 2017.
The harvest windows were narrow in 2018; many growers were not slowing down to measure soybean yield contest plots.
Nonetheless, growers had some impressive entries with 15 of the 24 entries submitted yielding more than 70 bushels per acre, according to a North Carolina State University news release.
Of the entries submitted over 70 bushels per acre, there are several trends in 2018:
87% used an MG III or MGIV soybean variety
93% used ≤20-inch row spacing
93% were full-season soybeans
86% used foliar fungicides
80% used foliar fertilizers
In NCSU 2018 agronomic research trials, scientists often saw a yield advantage of narrow-row spacing (15 inches or 18 inches) compared to wider-row spacing (30 inches or 36 inches). They saw consistent yield increases in trials across the state from the use of foliar fungicides; 2018 had wet, humid and hot conditions conducive for disease development.
In the 2018 research trials, the researchers did not see a positive effect on soybean yield from the use of various foliar fertilizer products. More in-depth information from these research trials will be available on the Soybean Extension Portal in the coming months.
NCSU would like to acknowledge the 2018 Soybean Yield Contest winners and the County Extension Agents who worked with these growers to verify their contest submissions and production practices. The growers were recognized at the 2019 NC Joint Commodity Conference earlier in January.
Highest Yield in the State: Matthews Family Farm, 104.5 bushels per acre from Davie County in the Northern Piedmont Region submitted by County Extension Agent Marsha McGraw
Second Highest Yield in the State: Johnny Moore, 94.0 bushels per acre from Iredell County in the Southern Piedmont Region submitted by County Extension Agent Laura Elmore
Third Highest Yield in the State (TIE): James Allen, 91.5 bushels per acre from Washington County in the Tidewater Region submitted by County Extension Agent Rod Gurganus
AND
Doug and Billy Mercer, 91.5 bushels per acre from Pasquotank County in the Tidewater Region submitted by County Extension Agent Al Wood
Highest Yield in the Southern Coastal Plain: Locklear Brothers Farm, 84 bushels per acre from Robeson County submitted by County Extension Agent Mac Malloy
Highest Yield in the Northern Coastal Plain: Sharp Farms Inc., 82.4 bushels per acre from Wilson County submitted by County Extension Agent Norman Harrell
Most Efficient Yield in the State: Temple Family Farms, $4.75 per bushel from Pasquotank County submitted by County Extension Agent Al Wood
2nd Most Efficient Yield in the State: Matthews Family Farm, $5.13 per bushel from Davie County submitted by County Extension Agent Marsha McGraw
3rd Most Efficient Yield in the State: Blizzard Farms Inc. $5.21 per bushel from Greene County submitted by County Extension Agent Grayson Wells
Most Efficient Yield in the Southern Piedmont: Jason Starnes, $5.35 per bushel from Rowan County submitted by County Extension Agent Morgan Watts
Most Efficient Yield in the Southern Coastal Plain: Locklear Brothers Farm, $5.80 per bushel from Robeson County submitted by County Extension Agent Mac Malloy
Based on feedback fro various stakeholder, the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association has decided to modify the Soybean Yield Contest categories for 2019 and beyond. More information will be forthcoming on these changes.
Most notably, the Most Efficient Soybean Yield Contest will be eliminated. There will now be division awards for both irrigated and non-irrigated soybeans across the state. Stay tuned for more details.
NCSU researchers thanked contest entrants for helping them to identify production practices associated with high-yielding soybeans across North Carolina.
The 2018 North Carolina Soybean Yield Contest results are now available on the Soybean Extension Portal.