By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — For the first time, the Illinois Soybean Assoc. (ISA) is launching a challenge designed to make Illinois soybean growers the global leader in yields. Applications for the 2010 yield challenge are due by April 1. The challenge is funded, in part, by the soybean checkoff.

Growers, students and agribusinesses will combine their talents to test soybean production skills and compete for higher yields. As part of the challenge, participants will receive free soil testing for nutrients and soybean cyst nematode count, along with free protein and oil analyses of samples taken from harvested plots.

As if those benefits weren’t incentive enough, production strategies and data collected will be made available to all growers to improve Illinois yields. Not only does the challenge reward top growers, it also identifies innovative management practices used to produce higher yields, according to farmer and ISA Chairman Ron Moore of Roseville, Ill.

“The challenge promises to be a win-win for everyone – those who compete can demonstrate new methods and greater yields while earning cash and other prizes. And all Illinois growers and agribusinesses will benefit as the results of the challenge are shared and applied to future growing seasons,” Moore said. “By learning the best methods to increase yields, everyone wins as Illinois takes its place as a global leader in soybean production.”
Any grower (owner-operator, tenant or tenant-landlord team) who produces soybeans in Illinois is eligible. All yield challenge fields must be in Illinois.

Illinois will be divided into nine challenge districts with winners identified in each district. Teams of five to 10 growers will work together to implement innovative methods to produce higher yields. Teams may be sponsored by businesses, but it’s not a requirement.

Each grower on the team is required to set up two side-by-side, 5-acre plots – one for methods normally used by the grower and the other for high-yield strategies. Participants will grow the same variety of soybeans in each plot, and plots must be planted on the same day.

All practices must be recorded and reported, with team members conducting a yield check at harvest. A minimum of two acres in each plot must be harvested. For each team, the average of the five highest yielding plots will be used to determine the final yield for that team. Those with the highest average will be identified and rewarded. All growers can receive free one-year memberships to the ISA, or their membership will be extended a year.

Student teams from Illinois universities, community colleges and FFA chapters are invited to participate. Students can win up to $1,000 for their school’s ag department, personalized yield challenge jackets and invitations to the 2010 Illinois Commodity Conference.

All entries are due by April 1, 2010, with a fee of $1,200 per team. ISA will cover the cost for student teams.

Call the ISA at 888-826-4011 or visit www.soybeanchallenge.com