The Kansas Soybean Association is calling all soybean farmers in Kansas to enter their competitive soybean crop into the Kansas Soybean Yield Contest by December 1.
Continuing in 2023, the Kansas Soybean Association will sponsor three participants to attend the Commodity Classic in Houston, TX, in late February 2024. First place in both contests, as well as one randomly drawn participant who entered both contests, earn the trip. Airfare, parking, accommodations, and registration will be covered.
The Kansas Soybean Commission sponsors a monetary prize 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 114.3 bushel-per-acre record. The amounts per district are that first place receives $300, second place receives $200, and third place receives $100. All participants receive a T-shirt for entering.
Districts are determined by region, tillage method, and irrigation status, with a total of 18 districts in consideration. No-till on the Plains supplies additional awards in the no-till categories. Farmers may enter multiple categories but only one entry per field.
Eligible fields must consist of at least five contiguous acres as verified by the Farm Service Agency, GPS printout, or manual measurement. A non-relative witness, either Kansas State Research and Extension personnel or a specified designee, must be present at harvest and should 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 statewide Kansas Soybean Value Contest, which analyzes protein, oil, and other soybean qualities, is also open for entries. Entrants submit 20-ounce samples, which Ag Processing, Inc. evaluates to determine the value. Monetary awards are also given to the three highest-value entries. Farmers may enter both the yield and value contests.
The results of the contests will be announced at the 2024 Kansas Soybean Expo in Topeka.
A full guide of contest rules and regulations, as well as the digital entry form, are available at kansassoybeans.org/association/contests/. Questions may be directed to the Kansas Soybean office by phone at 877-KS-SOYBEAN (877-577-6923) or local KSRE offices.
Sarah Lancaster, Extension Weed Science Specialist
Kansas Soybean Association, KSRE representative
slancaster@ksu.edu