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The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is launching a challenge designed to make Illinois soybean growers the global leader in soybean yields. Funded in part by the soybean checkoff, the 2010 Yield Challenge is slated to kick off after Labor Day and continue through next year's growing season. Applications are due by April 1, 2010.

The Yield Challenge combines the talents of growers, students and agri-businesses 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. The soybean production strategies and data collected from the Challenge will be available to all growers to improve soybean yields in Illinois.

A Win-Win for Illinois

According to Ron Moore (Roseville, IL), ISA chairperson and soybean farmer, the Yield Challenge seeks to reward top soybean growers and identify innovative management practices used to produce the highest soybean yields across Illinois.

"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," Moore said, "and all Illinois growers and agri-businesses will benefit as the results of the Challenge are shared and applied to future growing seasons. By learning the best methods to increase yields, everyone wins as Illinois takes its place as a global leader in soybean production."

How the Challenge Works

Illinois will have nine Yield Challenge districts, with "winners" identified in each district throughout the state. Teams of growers in each district (five to 10 growers per team) will work together to implement innovative methods to produce higher yields. Although teams may have sponsors, non-sponsored teams also can participate.

Each grower on a team is required to set up two side-by-side plots – one for methods normally used by the grower and the other for innovative, high-yield strategies. All production practices must be recorded and reported, with team members conducting a yield check at harvest. For each team, the average of the five highest yielding plots will be used to determine the final Challenge yield for that team. Those with the highest average yield in each of the nine districts will be identified and rewarded. All participating growers can receive free one-year memberships to the ISA or have existing memberships extended a year.

Open for Students Too!

Student teams from Illinois universities, community colleges and FFA chapters also are invited to participate (note: research faculty and academic professionals may be involved). They can win up to $1,000 for their school's agriculture department, personalized Yield Challenge jackets and invitations to the 2010 Illinois Commodity Conference for recognition of their achievement.

All entries are due by April 1, 2010, with a fee of $1,200 per team (some sponsorship discounts may apply for multiple teams). ISA will cover the cost for student teams. In addition, all Yield Challenge fields must be located in Illinois. Winners agree to allow ISA and its cooperators/ sponsors to use production data for promotional and educational materials, activities and events.

The Yield Challenge was created by ISA with participation from four public universities (University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University and Western Illinois University) and the National Soybean Research Laboratory. For more details and team/sponsor entry forms for the 2010 Yield Challenge, please call (888) 826-4011 or go to www.soyyieldchallenge.com.