Because of drought, yield and quality might be below normal this year, but the stakes are as high as ever in the annual Kansas Soybean Yield and Quality Contests this fall. Thanks to the Kansas Soybean Commission, the highest dryland and irrigated yields in the state each will receive a $1,000 award. In each district, first place will win $300, second will earn $200, and third will receive $100. No-Till on the Plains will supply additional awards for the no-till districts.
Managed by the Kansas Soybean Association, the contests are open to anyone involved in farming, but there is a limit of only one entry per field. Farmers may enter multiple categories – conventional or no-till, dryland or irrigated. All entries must be entered in the same district, however.
Farmers may enter the quality contest without entering the yield contest.
A complete set of rules is available on the Kansas Soybean website (www.KansasSoybeans.org), from the Kansas Soybean office (877-KS-SOYBEAN) and in K-State Extension offices statewide.
K-State Research and Extension is a contests sponsor. Gary Kilgore, an emeritus professor of agronomy, coordinates the project. He encouraged everyone to consider competing.
“Maintaining yield and quality in a drought year will go a long way toward U.S. food security,” he said, “and Kansas soybean farmers are using the technologies that help accomplish that. They deserve recognition for their efforts, and the Kansas Soybean contests provide just that.”
The Kansas Soybean Commission, headquartered in Topeka, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who oversee investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all Kansas soybean farmers. KSC invests checkoff funds in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profitability of all Kansas soybean farmers.
The Kansas Soybean Association, also headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate for soybean farmers on local, state, national and international issues of importance. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of nearly 500 farmers. It also is the primary contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.