The world record soybean yield champion credits his winning 154.7 bushel yield to good genetics and crop protection.

“I run very extensive on-farm research every year on different genetics from all kinds of companies and then I pick the best ones to plant on my farm,” said Kip Cullers of Purdy, MO.

The best one this year was Pioneer® 94M80 soybeans and Greg Luce, Pioneer technical representative, worked closely with Kip over the season and watched the record crop grow.

“We want to share all the things that Kip is doing with other growers,” said Luce. “He does some things uniquely. He irrigates frequently at low volumes of water to cool the plant, an idea he got from his green bean production.”

Kip also protected his crop from disease threats. “I live far enough south that we have a lot of disease pressure and we use Headline fungicide to protect the crop when its up and growing,” said Kip. “A happy plant wants to produce.” He also used Syngenta Warrior insecticide.

Missouri Soybean Association Executive Director Dale Ludwig estimates that less than five percent of the soybeans in the state get a regular treatment of both fungicide and insecticide.

Dennis Belcher, technical service representative in the Midwest for BASF Agricultural Products, said BASF was honored to be considered a partner in Kip’s success.

“In 2006, the average on-farm trials for Headline increased soybean yields from four to eight bushels per acre and corn yields from 12-15 bushels per acre,” Belcher said.

Listen to Loose’s comments here:
soybean-winner-pioneer.mp3

Listen to Belcher’s comments here:
soybean-winner-basf.mp3