By Blake Jackson
Lancaster County's Eric Charles emerged victorious in the 2023 Pennsylvania Soybean Yield Contest, showcasing his exceptional crop management skills. His impressive yield of 101 bushels per acre outshone more than 30 other competitors, earning him the coveted title of state champion.
The contest recognizes top producers across the state's diverse soybean-growing regions, with Charles dominating his category and several others claiming impressive yields:
- Ian Stamy (Cumberland County): 84.71 bushels per acre
- Brad Kiefer (Northampton County): 93.73 bushels per acre
- Thomas Hoovler (Mercer County): 74.74 bushels per acre
- John Tebbs (Lycoming County): 78.98 bushels per acre
Although summer wildfires in Canada cast a smoky haze over Pennsylvania, impacting air quality, Penn State Extension's Andrew Frankenfield (contest coordinator) notes that their impact on crops was minimal. The early June timing coincided with drought conditions, offering some stress relief through reduced leaf surface temperature and transpiration.
While Charles was the lone contestant to surpass the 100-bushel mark, three others crossed the 90-bushel threshold, and eight achieved yields exceeding 80 bushels. Interestingly, over half of the entries were planted before April 26th, not just in the south-central region but across the state, thanks to a dry April followed by soaking rain.
Weather patterns throughout the growing season varied, with dry periods in May-June and August, interspersed with more frequent rain in mid-June-July and September. Thankfully, favorable October weather allowed for smooth harvesting.
Charles' winning strategy involved planting Pioneer P34A65PR variety after using a no-till drill on May 4th. He employed a two-pass herbicide program and applied fungicide and insecticide. Despite receiving only 0.2 inches of rain until mid-June, his crop thrived with about 9 inches of rain in mid-June-July and 5.25 inches in September. Harvest occurred on October 11th, followed by planting wheat as a cover crop.
Charles' triumph earns him an educational trip for two to the Commodity Classic, along with regional winners receiving similar rewards. This contest, organized by the Pennsylvania Soybean Board, serves to highlight the expertise and innovative practices of the state's top soybean producers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Soybeans