Information provided by Illinois Soybean Association.

ISA's Yield Challenge encourages growers to take innovative approaches to unlock the yield potential of soybeans. Peru, Ill., farmer Dan Arkels’ strategy for the 2014 Yield Challenge was to keep each plant as healthy as possible from planting to harvest. This is his healthy Yield Challenge plot at the peak of the growing season.

For Dan Arkels, Peru, Ill., it has turned out to be more than a great year.  He recently harvested a record-breaking 103.95 bushels of soybeans per acre on his 30-acre LaSalle county test plot.  Arkels' yield was verified by an independent agronomist as part of the Illinois Soybean Association's (ISA's) 100 Bushel Challenge program.

"In my world, this is like winning the World Series," explains Arkels.  "Someone needed to prove it's possible to raise 100-bushel soybeans in Illinois, and I was lucky in that I had the right growing season to do it."

Arkels is not a newcomer to the ISA Yield Challenge program, having participated in both 2012 and 2013.  In 2012, he was recognized as one of three Illinois growers achieving more than 80 bushels per acre.  His 2014 results have broken the previous record by nearly 15 bushels.

"We are excited to congratulate Dan on achieving this important milestone in Illinois agriculture," says Donald Guinnip, soybean farmer from Marshall, Ill., and ISA Production Committee chair.  "Our goal for the 2014 Yield Challenge was to have growers reach for the 100-bushel mark and Dan has proven that it's possible, given today's high-performing soybean varieties and smart management decisions."

 Raising 100 Bushel Beans

In addition to the weather, Arkels attributes his success to using the latest in soybean seed genetics and working to keep plants healthy all season.  "My top goal this year was to save as many blossoms and pods as possible," he says.

He adds that working with a team of local experts played an important role in helping him make the right decisions.  Arkels relied on guidance from Dave Callan of GRAINCO FS, Inc., his local Pioneer dealers George  and Dan Lucach of Lucach Seed, Don Stork from StollerUSA, and Shawn Clapp from Rosen's Inc., to help manage his 2014 Yield Challenge test plot.

Arkels planted his record-breaking plot on May 8 in what he described as "nearly ideal conditions," including warm weather and timely rains.  He also selected a 3.4 maturity level variety.  "I chose this variety in hopes of capturing more sunlight and more of the growing season," he says.  Arkels plants a 2.8 maturity variety on the balance of his acres.

From his experience with previous Yield Challenge contests, Arkels knew that a preplant application of potash and phosphorus, as well as 15-inch row spacing, would translate into higher yields, as would a foliar application of nitrogen, zinc, manganese, iron and sulfur applied at the V3-V4 soybean growth stages.  He applied additional slow-release nitrogen and micronutrients throughout the season and fungicides as needed.

Fluctuating weather patterns contributed to some mid-season stress from sudden death syndrome (SDS) on his farm, though Arkels estimates that it only affected one to two percent of the plants in his test plot, not significantly affecting his yields.