Results from MSPB's 2024 Soybean Yield Contest
Results from MSPB’s 2024 soybean yield contest for Mississippi are finalized. These results are divided into categories for Delta Irrigated [14 entrants], Delta dryland [8 entrants], non-Delta irrigated [5 entrants], and non-Delta dryland [10 entrants]. Below is a summary of the results and the practices used to achieve those results for each category.
Delta Irrigated.
• Winning yields [1-3 places] averaged 102.25 bu/acre, with a range of 100.37 to 104.37 bu/acre. Yields of the top 10 entrants in this category were >81.5 bu/acre.
• The top three yields were achieved with varieties from MG’s 4.3 to 4.9 [winner] that were planted Apr. 24, 16, and 8, respectively.
• The top-yielding entrant used 38-in.-wide twin rows, whereas the second and third place entrants used a row spacing of 30-in. Row spacing was either 38-in.-wide twin rows or 30 in. for 9 of the 10 entrants with the highest yields.
• All three of the top producers planted treated seed.
• Producers with the top three yields applied irrigation water by the furrow method.
• All three of the top producers applied both a foliar fungicide and insecticide.
• Plant populations at harvest were between 101 and 137 thousand/acre for 9 of the 10 top-yielding entrants.
Delta Dryland.
• The top three yields averaged 70.7 bu/acre, with a range of 78.6 to 65.6 bu/acre from first to third place.
• The top three yields were achieved with varieties from MG’s 4.2 to 4.8 [winner] that were planted Apr. 18, 19, and 7, respectively.
• Row spacings used by the top three entrants were 38 in. [winner], 38 in. twin rows, and 30 in.
• Entrants with the top two yields used a seed treatment.
• Plant populations at harvest were 106, 111, and 99 thousand/acre for the first through third place entrants.
• Fall tillage was used by entrants with the top two yields, whereas the third place entrant used a no-till system.
Non-Delta Irrigated.
• The top three yields averaged 78.9 bu/acre, with a range of 75.0 to 84.3 bu/acre.
• The top three yields were achieved with the same MG 4.8 variety.
• Planting dates for entrants with the top three yields were May 7, 2, and 23, respectively.
• Row spacings used for the top three yields were 30 [winner], 30, and 15 in.
• All three of the top yields were achieved with treated seed.
• Irrigation water was applied by the pivot method by entrants with the top three yields.
• Entrants with the three highest yields applied a foliar fungicide and insecticide, plus a desiccant prior to harvest.
• Plant populations at harvest for all entrants ranged from 88 [winner] to 125 thousand/acre.
• Fall tillage was used by the three entrants with the highest yields.
Non-Delta Dryland.
• The top three yields were 104.5, 88.4, and 69.1 bu/acre. Yields of the 10 entrants averaged 68.6 bu/acre.
• The top three yields were achieved with varieties from MG’s 4.7 [winner], 4.6, and 4.8 that were planted on Apr. 1 and 24 and May 1, respectively.
• Row spacings used by entrants with the top three yields were 15, 38-in. twin rows, and 30 in.
• Entrants with the first and third place yields planted treated seeds.
• Entrants with the first and third place yields applied a foliar fungicide and insecticide, plus a desiccant prior to harvest..
• The entrant with the top yield used a no-till system, whereas entrants with the second and third highest yields used fall tillage.
• Plant populations at harvest for the top three yields were 106, 116, and 107 thousand/acre, respectively.
Overall Results.
• Click the above link to view a detailed summary of the results from the contest.
• Soybeans grown by three of the four top entrants in the above categories followed corn, whereas the fourth top entrant rotated with cotton. Ten of the 12 top-yielding entrants used a rotation system.
• Most of the top entrants in the above four categories planted treated seed.
• Most of the entrants with the top yields applied a foliar fungicide and insecticide.
• Entrants with the top three yields in each category used MG 4 varieties.
• Planting date of most of the top entrants was in April.
• For all top entrants, plant populations at harvest were generally greater than 100 thousand/acre.
TAKEAWAY MESSAGE
These results support the following for Mississippi soybean growers.
• To achieve maximum soybean yields in Mississippi, growers should be planting treated seed of MG 4 varieties at between 120 and 140 thousand seeds/acre in mid-April in rows no more than 30 in. apart.
• Soybean growers should strive for a harvest plant population of at least 100 thousand/acre.
• In Mississippi, it is apparent that Delta irrigators use the furrow method to irrigate soybeans, whereas non-Delta irrigators use center pivots to apply irrigation water. This is likely related to topographical differences between the two regions of the state.
• No mention of whether or not irrigation water-conserving tools such as Pipe Planner, soil moisture sensors, and/or surge valves were used, but the amount of water applied by winning irrigators indicates that some or all of these tools were used.
• It is likely that the highest soybean yields will be achieved when soybeans are grown in rotation with either corn or cotton. However, individual producers should be aware of pest problems that may be exacerbated when soybeans follow either crop.
• These results provide a good indication of the practices that should be used to grow high-yielding soybeans in Mississippi. However, individual producers should determine if all inputs that these entrants used will in fact profitable in their environment.
Up-to-date information about all of the inputs used for soybean production in both irrigated and dryland environments is presented in White Papers that are posted on this website.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Mar. 2025, larryh91746@gmail.com