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South Dakota’s 100-bushel barrier broken

Southeastern South Dakota farmer Scott McKee is the first person to break 100-bushels in the South Dakota Soybean Yield Contest.  McKee, who farms in Union County, broke records and took Overall First Place with a yield of 103.7 bushels per acre.  Planting more seeds per acre contributed to the high yield, according to McKee.

“We decided to put 15-inch rows on the group 2s, Pioneer 92Y70s, and we really increased the population,” said McKee.  “We were running between 230,000 to 240,000 [seeds per acre].  It was conventional so we worked the ground; we put some pre herbicides down.”

McKee fertilized his soybeans, and treated when aphids and weeds appeared.  He normally grows soybeans that yield more than normal, but he says this was the year to go for the record.

“Rains just came every week,” said McKee.  “It was .3 to ¾ of an inch all year long and it just kept putting the pods on.  There were a lot of threes [bean pods] and fours all the way to the top.”

South Dakota Soybean Association President John Horter says the organization has been challenging farmers to push for 100-bushel soybeans for the last few years.

AUDIO: Scott McKee (1 min. MP3)