TOPEKA, Kan. — As pods begin filling out across the state, Kansas Soybean is calling all soybean farmers in Kansas to enter the Kansas Soybean Yield and Value Contests. Come harvest, producers will be recognized for the superior yield and quality of their crop. The more that participate, the better the snapshot of growing conditions across the state.
“If you’re not involved, you’re not learning,” says John Pracht, Westphalia farmer. “In the yield and value contests, you can look and see what somebody else did and why their crops made as much as they did, based on their good decisions – it’s a learning tool.”
For the second year, agricultural sciences company FMC will sponsor the contests alongside the Kansas Soybean Commission.
“We see this contest as a chance to support and recognize farmers across the state,” says Brian Laverentz with FMC. “Increasing yields year after year takes place through careful planning and management, and we want to show our appreciation to the farmers who rely on FMC innovative products to be part of that.”
The yield contest highlights the practices that get the most out of every acre, and the advancements that raise the bar every year. Districts are determined by region, tillage method and irrigation status to reflect different growing conditions across the state. Farmers may enter multiple categories, but only one entry per field.
Eligible fields must consist of at least five contiguous acres, and a non-relative witness must be present at harvest and ensure that the combine grain hopper is empty prior to harvest. Official elevator-scale tickets with moisture percentage and foreign matter included must accompany entries to be considered.
The Kansas Soybean Commission sponsors cash prizes for the top three finishers in each district, as well as an additional $1,000 for the overall dryland and irrigated winners and any who top the new 126.6 bushel-per-acre record, set last year by McClain Family Farms, LLC. Each district winner receives $300, second receives $200, and third receives $100.
“It’s always good to talk with other farmers and get ideas on how they are raising their crops,” says Josh McClain of McClain Family Farms. “Regardless of where you’re at or how long you’ve been farming, there’s always room to improve, and you can learn from everybody.”
The value contest analyzes protein and oil content, along with other soybean qualities, determining whose crop delivers the highest premium above cash price. It celebrates producers whose outstanding crops provide value to important Kansas industries like animal agriculture and biofuels.
To enter, producers send a 20-ounce sample to the Kansas Soybean office, after which it is evaluated by Ag Processing, Inc. Cash prizes are given to the three highest-value entries.
Farmers may enter both the yield and value contests. The top yield entry and top value entry, as well as one randomly drawn entry who enters both contests, will earn a trip to the 2027 Commodity Classic set for March 3-5, 2027 in New Orleans. All participants receive a T-shirt.
A full guide of contest rules and regulations, as well as the digital entry form, are available at kansassoybeans.org/contests. No pre-entry is required for either contest. Questions may be directed to the Kansas Soybean office by phone at 877-KS-SOYBEAN (877-577-6923) or to local Kansas State Research and Extension offices.
About Kansas Soybean:
The Kansas Soybean Association, headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate on local, state, national and international issues of importance to Kansas’ 16,000 soybean farms. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of farmers and industry supporters. It also is the primary, administrative contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.
The Kansas Soybean Commission, established in 1977, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who are elected by their peers. They oversee investments of the legislated “soybean checkoff” assessment in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profit opportunities for all Kansas soybean farmers.
— Kansas Soybean