The Missouri Soybean Association’s yield contest is back for 2018 with several changes in response to grower feedback — including dropping the entry fee. The annual competition recognizes those producers across the state who truly excel in soybean production based on their crop yields.

Growers have until Sept. 1 to complete their entry forms. The tradition of great prizes is continuing, with even more cash awards and automatic honors for growers with triple-digit yields.

“Our winners consistently share a commitment to stewardship and innovation, in addition to their awesome yields,” said Brooks Hurst, a farmer from Tarkio, Mo., and Missouri Soybean Association president. “The annual yield contest is a great opportunity for growers to highlight the potential for soybean in Missouri, it’s exciting to follow the progress throughout the growing season as farmers enter their top performing plots.”

The 2018 contest will again include regional competitions in addition to the statewide contest. Growers in each of the association’s seven districts will be competing against one another on yields — giving farmers the opportunity to show their skills against others’ growing in similar soils and under similar weather conditions. The contest is open to members of the Missouri Soybean Association.

For 2018, the requirement for crop rotation on contest fields has also been dropped based on grower feedback. Previously, farmers had to have grown soybeans in the contest field within the past three years.

All contest entries must use soybean varieties available in the marketplace for Missouri. No experimental lines are eligible for Missouri’s soybean yield contest.

Trip to Commodity Classic

Thanks to the partnership of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and industry, top growers can receive a trip to the 2019 Commodity Classic in Orlando, gift cards to Cabela’s and for biodiesel, as well as cash prizes.

Growers with yields of 100 bushels per acre or more receive additional prizes, the highest of those yields will receive $1,000 in biodiesel or a $1,000 gift card to Cabela’s. If multiple entries hit the triple-digit mark, the other entrants will receive $250 in biodiesel or $250 gift card from Cabela’s.

The contest will continue to recognize winners in separate categories for irrigated and no-till growing methods. Entries must be from fields 10 acres or larger in size and located within Missouri, and all participants must be at least 18 years of age. Each entry must be submitted on a separate entry form.

The overall winner of the irrigated contest will be selected from all entrants who used irrigation on their crop, regardless of tillage practice. The overall winner of the non-irrigated contest will be selected from among district winner(s) of the No-tillage and Tilled categories combined.

Prizes will be awarded during the Missouri Soybean Association’s district meetings and annual meeting in early 2019. Winners will also be recognized online and in Missouri Soybean Farmer magazine.

Entry forms, rules and prize details are available on mosoy.org, or growers may request copies by calling the Missouri Soybean office at (573) 635-3819.

Source: Missouri Soybean Association