Randy Dowdy of Georgia already broke corn yield records with nearly 504 bushels per acre in 2014. Now he has claimed the world record soybean yield title with 171 bushels per acre, topping Kip Cullers’ previous soybean yield record of 160 set back in 2010.

“As growers, sometimes we make high yields and sometimes we don’t,” said Dowdy at a recent press conference held by BASF. “This year, everything from weather to management decisions went right to enable a really great season.”

Dowdy says his method to achieving high yields is to identify why yield loss might occur and then do something about it. “Understanding these yield components and being a steward of the crop makes sure we’re on track to hit our yield goals,” he said.

Dowdy partnered with BASF in pursuit of higher soybean yields. “Randy came to me after breaking the corn world record,” said AJ Woodyard, Technical Crop Production Specialist, BASF. “He told me he wanted take his learnings from corn and apply them to soybeans.”

Woodyard believes this yield record of 171 bushels per acre is just a start. “Randy epitomizes the Grow Smart with BASF approach,” Woodyard said. “With Randy’s passion and willingness to push the limits of crop potential, the expectations he has for his crop will become even greater as he becomes more familiar with soybeans and hones in on his most successful strategies.”

Congratulations, Randy, on your world-record accomplishment!