John Comegys of Hartly wins Delaware soybean yield contest
John Comegys of Hartly in Kent County had the state's top 2016 soybean yield with 80.74 bushels per acre of full-season soybeans. Comegys planted Pioneer P36T86R. Kevin Evans of Bridgeville in Sussex County won the statewide double-crop competition with 73.51 bushels per acre. Evans planted Pioneer 42T71, a Plenish bean which produces high-oleic soybean oil. Both men received a check for $1,000. The awards were announced by Delaware Soybean Board Chairman James "Jay" Baxter, a farmer from Georgetown, at the annual Ag Week education program in Harrington.
The Delaware Soybean Board is funded by the national soybean checkoff program, which assesses one-half of 1 percent of the net market value of soybeans at the first point of sale. The funds are collected for soybean research, marketing and education projects. County winners for full-season soybeans included Robert Garey of Sussex County with 73.52 bushels per acre, Dale Scuse of Kent County with 80.10 bushels per acre, and Robbie Emerson of New Castle County with 66.84 bushels per acre.
County winners for double-crop beans included David Smoker of Sussex County with 69.13 bushels per acre and Dale Scuse of Kent County with 62.94 bushels. There was no entry from New Castle County. County-level winners received $250. All entries in the contest were irrigated beans.
Delaware farmers plant about 180,000 acres of soybeans each year, and the crop generates approximately $60 million in value to the state. Delaware's agricultural industry contributes about $8 billion per year to the Delaware economy. For more information, go to www.desoybeans.org.
