Dale Blessing wins statewide annual yield contest

Dale Blessing of Harrington won the statewide full-season soybean yield contest and a $1,000 prize with 82.08 bushels per acre of irrigated beans, the Delaware Soybean Board announced Jan. 14.

Fred West of Laurel was the statewide double crop soybean yield winner with 74.15 bushels per acre, also winning a $1,000 prize.

The soybean board runs the contest to gather data on production practices and to recognize growers who have achieved high yields.

“In 2015 we had an excellent growing season and that, combined with the skill of these growers, led to these outstanding yields,” said Jay Baxter, a Georgetown farmer and DSB chairman. “We want to encourage all growers to participate.”

County winners in the contest included Howard Clendaniel of Sussex County with 80.17 bushels per acre of dryland full-season beans, Kevin Evans of Sussex County with 71.49 bushels per acre of irrigated double-crop beans and Dale Scuse of Kent County with 65.15 bushels per acre of irrigated full-season beans. Each of the county winners received a $250 prize. There were no entries for double-crop beans in Kent County and no entries from New Castle County.

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.

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.