Tull, Evans, set new Del. records with soybean yields

Delaware Soybean Board Chairman Cory Atkins, left, presented a plaque to Dylan Tull, statewide winner in the Full Season division of the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest, during Delaware Ag Week. Tull’s record-breaking yield was 96.99 bushels per acre. (Photo courtesy Delaware Soybean Board)

HARRINGTON, Del. — Two entries in the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest broke records this year, coming close to 100 bushels per acre. Cory Atkins, chairman of the Delaware Soybean Board, announced the results during the agronomy session of Delaware Ag Week in Harrington on Jan. 12.
Dylan Tull of Sussex County achieved the new state record of 96.99 bushels per acre with full season soybeans planted April 29 using Stine 39EC20 in an irrigated field.
Kevin Evans closely followed with another record-breaking yield of 96.33 bushels per acre with the same seed, also irrigated, earning him the title of Sussex County winner in the Full Season division. The previous record of 96.04 bushels per acre was held by R.C. Willin of Sussex County.
Mel Wyatt of Kent County took statewide honors in the Double Crop division, achieving a yield of 75.93 bushels per acre with Pioneer P36A83 planted behind rye on June 24 in an irrigated field. Dale Blessing’s yield of 80.33 bushels per acre, using Hubner 4228 planted June 3, was tops statewide in the Non-Irrigated division.
Each of the statewide winners received a $1,000 prize.
Phillip Sylvester had the highest yield in the Full Season division for Kent County, with a yield of 90.47 bushels per acre, planting Hubner 4228 under irrigation. There was no entry in that division from New Castle County.
In the Double Crop division, each county winner used irrigation. Mel Wyatt Jr., of Kent County reached 71.21 bushels per acre using Pioneer P36A83. Robbie Emerson of New Castle County achieved 73.55 bushels per acre with Pioneer P37T51. Fred West III of Sussex County grew 67.75 bushels per acre using Pioneer 48A94.
Each county winner took home $250.
“The 2022 growing season marked the 10th anniversary of the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest,” Adkins said. Over the years, Delaware soybean growers have proven that bin-busting yields are possible in the First State.”
Adkins added the goal of the contest is to gather data on practices incorporated in producing high soybean yields while recognizing the individuals who have achieved such yields. The 2022 Delaware Soybean Yield Data Report contains details on the entries submitted such as seed variety, seeding rate and row spacing. The report is posted at https://desoybeans.org/yield-contest/ under “Individual Yield Contest Results 2022.”