2018 was a record year for soybean production in South Dakota and that was reflected with record yields in the Soybean Yield Contest. The overall winner was Doug Van Duyn of Minnehaha County who hit 113.94 bushels per acre, the highest ever in the competition. He says a combination of weather and management practices allowed him to push the crop.
He says there is no silver bullet to achieving high yielding soybeans but he believes applying manure is key, as well as lower populations via 30-inch rows.
Van Duyn also recommends farmers look at early planting to boost soybean yields.
Tim Hofer of Hutchinson County won the Master Class with a Legend soybean that hit 109.12 bushels per acre. Sam Bender of Hutchinson County and Brady Johnson of Moody County also won their categories in the Youth Class. Awards were also given for quality.
