Report2014

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The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Yield Challenge

spotlights innovative crop technologies and strategies,

and never more so than 2014, when one of our par-

ticipants produced the first independently verified

100-plus bushel-per-acre yield in Illinois.

This milestone, along with the many achievements

highlighted in the Yield Challenge, grow from producers’

desire and willingness to challenge the norms. Since

ISA established the Yield Challenge – funded

by the Illinois soybean checkoff – in 2010, we’ve

built Illinois’ position as a global leader in soybean

production. Today we’re again number one in the

nation with a statewide average yield of 56 bushels

per acre and a total soybean production of 547.7

million bushels in 2014. This year 76 farmers

participated in the challenge, and 25 of them joined

the 100-Bushel-Challenge.

For 2014 we set a goal to reach the 100-bushel mark,

and our winner shattered the old state record by

nearly 15 bushels. We can’t wait to see how our next

crop of participants incorporates innovative strategies

and ideas to challenge today’s ideals.

Sincerely,

Don Guinnip

ISA District 14 Director

Production Committee Chair

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1ST & 2ND PLACE WINNERS within each of the nine districts

District Place Participant Challenge Yield Plot Yield Increase 2 1 John Weberpal 56.7 8 2 Jeff Keifer 45.0 2.7 4 1 John Breedlove 59.5 13.8 2 Larry Garlisch 72.6 11.2 5 1 Rick Adams 65.4 1.9 7 1 Chad Kuenstler 89.9 18.9 2 Tony Kuenstler 68.3 8.3

Top Ten High Yields

Participant bu/A

Participant bu/A

Chad Kuenstler 89.9

Michael Windish 83.2

Joe Klein 79.5

Chris Gould 74.9

Larry Garlisch 72.6

Gary Baumgart 69.2

Tony Kuenstler 68.3

Rick Adams 65.4

Kurt Borman 60.0

John Breedlove 59.5

2014

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John Breedlove 30 13.8

Chad Kuenstler 18.9 14.3

John Weberpal 16.4 8

Larry Garlisch 11.2 7.3

Tony Kuenstler 8.3 5.2

Participant % bu/A

Top Five Dramatic % Increases

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Plot Fall Till

Chal. Plot Spr. Till

Chal. Plot PPF

Std. Plot Micronut.

Chal. Plot Micronut.

Std. Plot PPF

Std. Plot Fall Till

Std. Plot Spr. Till

Tillage & Fertilizer

John Adams -5.2 No Till No Till No Till No Till Yes Yes No No

Rick Adams 1.9 No Till No Till No Till No Till No No No No Gary Baumhardt 3.0 No Till No Till No Till No Till No No No No Kurt Borman -1.8 No Till No Till No Till No Till No No No John Breedlove 30.0 No Till No Till Single Pass Single Pass Yes Yes No No Mick Deutsch 0.8 No No No Yes Chuck Diehl 0.2 Larry Garlisch 11.2 Single Pass Single Pass Single Pass Single Pass Yes Yes No No Chris Gould -1.8 No No No Yes Jeff Keifer 2.7 No Till No Till No No No Yes Joe Klein -1.2

Chad Kuenstler 18.9 Single Pass Single Pass Single Pass Single Pass Yes Yes No Yes Tony Kuenstler 8.3 Single Pass Single Pass Yes Yes

Michael Windish 5.1 Single Pass Single Pass No Till No Till No No No No

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2014

John Adams -5.2 Pioneer Pioneer 92Y51 92Y51 RR1 RR2

Rick Adams 1.9 Asgrow Asgrow 2933 2933 RR2 RR2

Gary Baumhardt 3.0 Asgrow Asgrow 4033 4033 RR2 RR2 None None

Kurt Borman -1.8 Funk Seed Funk Seed IC 3158 IC 3158 RR2 RR2 Cruiser Max Cruiser Max

John Breedlove 30.0 Asgrow Asgrow 3832 3832/3934 RR2 RR2 Escalate/Clariva Cruiser Max

Mick Deutsch 0.8 Pioneer Pioneer 28T33 28T33

Chuck Diehl 0.2 Pioneer Pioneer 28T33 28T33

Larry Garlisch 11.2 NK NK 39-U2 39-U2 RR2 RR2 Cruiser Max Cruiser Max

Chris Gould -1.8 Pioneer Pioneer 28T33 28T33

Jeff Keifer 2.7 Pioneer Pioneer 28T33 28T33

Joe Klein -1.2

Chad Kuenstler 18.9 Asgrow Asgrow ag3832 ag3832 RR2 RR2

Tony Kuenstler 8.3 Asgrow RR2

Michael Windish 5.1 Asgrow Asgrow 3231 3231 RR2 RR2 Cruiser Max Cruiser Max

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Seed Brand

Chal. Variety

Chal. Var. Herbicide

Std. Seed Treat

Chal. Seed Treat

Std. Var. Herbicide

Std. Seed Brand

Std. Variety

Fungicide and Insecticide

Fungicide and Insecticide

Acceleron + Imadacloprid

Advanced Advanced

Acceleron + Imadacloprid

Seed Profiles

Innovate and Bio Forge ST

Innovate and Bio Forge ST

Innovate and Bio Forge ST

ag4232, ag3832

100-Bushel Participants

Pete Aberle 4 12.5 70.579 Dan Arkels 2 12.5 103.949 Kurt Borman 1 13.1 61.113 John Breedlove 4 14.2 45.734 Steve Buxtons 7 14.4 68.069Joe Klein (Armstrong) 5 10.3 76.254 Joe Klein (Rock Rd #1) 5 13.2 85.611 Chad Kuenstler 7 12.1 79.519 Tony Kuenstler 7 12.3 89.909 Ross Prough 6 13.2 62.132

Participant District Moisture Soybean Yield (bu/A)

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Planting

John Adams -5.2 7 inch 7 inch Rick Adams 1.9 165,000 7 inch 7 inch Gary Baumhardt 3.0 160,000 160,000 15 inch 15 inch Kurt Borman -1.8 Bradyrhizobia Bradyrhizobia 167,000 167,000 15 inch 15 inch John Breedlove 30.0 160,000 160,000 15 inch 15 inch Mick Deutsch 0.8 156,000 156,000 30 inch 30 inch Chuck Diehl 0.2 140,000 140,000 15 inch 15 inch Larry Garlisch 11.2 165,000 165,000 15, inch 15 inch Chris Gould -1.8 150,000 150,000 15 inch 15 inch Jeff Keifer 2.7 140,000 140,000 15 inch 15 inch Joe Klein(Armstrong) -1.2 Chad Kuenstler 18.9 Bradyrhizobia Bradyrhizobia 7 inch 7 inch Tony Kuenstler 8.3 Biological 160,000 15 inch Michael Windish 5.1 150,000 150,000 15 inch 15 inch

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Inoculants

Chal. Seed Rt.

Std. Row Space

Chal. Row Space

Std. Inoculants

Std. Seed Rt.

Herbicide and Insecticide Application

John Adams -5.2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Rick Adams 1.9 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Gary Baumhardt 3.0 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Kurt Borman -1.8 John Breedlove 30.0 Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Mick Deutsch 0.8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Chuck Diehl 0.2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Larry Garlisch 11.2 No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Chris Gould -1.8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Jeff Keifer 2.7 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Joe Klein(Armstrong) -1.2 Chad Kuenstler 18.9 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Tony Kuenstler 8.3 Yes No Yes Yes Michael Windish 5.1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Burndown

Chal. Pre-em

Std. Post-em

Chal. Post-em

Std. Insect Used

Chal. Insect Used

Std. Burndown

Std. Pre-em

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2014

Fungicide Application

John Adams -5.2 No No No Yes No No Rick Adams 1.9 No Yes No Yes No No Gary Baumhardt 3.0 No Yes No No No No Kurt Borman -1.8 John Breedlove 30.0 Yes Yes Yes Yes Mick Deutsch 0.8 No Yes No Yes Chuck Diehl 0.2 No Yes No Yes Yes Larry Garlisch 11.2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Chris Gould -1.8 No Yes No Yes Jeff Keifer 2.7 No Yes No Yes Joe Klein(Armstrong) -1.2 Chad Kuenstler 18.9 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Tony Kuenstler 8.3 Yes Yes Michael Windish 5.1 No Yes No Yes

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Fung. Used

Chal. Foliar Feed

Std. Irr. Used

Chal. Irr. Used

Std. Fung. Used

Std. Foliar Feed

John Adams -5.2 5/29/14 5/29/14 Wet Wet 9/22/14 9/22/14 Rick Adams 1.9 Wet Wet 9/22/14 9/22/14 Gary Baumhardt 3.0 5/9/14 5/9/14 Ideal Ideal 10/27/14 10/27/14 Kurt Borman -1.8 5/8/14 5/8/14 Ideal Ideal 10/21/14 10/21/14 John Breedlove 30.0 5/15/14 5/15/14 Ideal Ideal 10/23/14 10/23/14 Mick Deutsch 0.8 5/24/14 5/24/14 Ideal Ideal 10/24/14 10/24/14 Chuck Diehl 0.2 5/20/14 5/20/14 Ideal Ideal 10/12/14 10/12/14 Larry Garlisch 11.2 5/23/14 5/23/14 Ideal Ideal 10/28/14 10/28/14 Chris Gould -1.8 5/7/14 5/7/14 Dry Dry 10/8/14 10/8/14 Jeff Keifer 2.7 5/29/14 5/29/14 Ideal Ideal 10/7/14 10/7/14 Joe Klein -1.2 9/27/14 9/27/14 Chad Kuenstler 18.9 5/5/14 5/15/14 Ideal Ideal 10/20/14 10/20/14 Tony Kuenstler 8.3 5/7/14 Wet 9/26/14 9/26/14 Michael Windish 5.1 5/10/14 5/10/14 Ideal Ideal 10/1/14 10/1/14

Participant % Yield Difference

Chal. Plant Date

Chal. Soil Cond.

Std. Harvest Date

Chal. Harvest Date

Std. Plant Date

Std. Soil Cond.

Harvest Timing

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Illinois Farmer Hits Grand Slam with 100-Bushel Beans

One for the Record Books

Dreams are personal and often elusive. But sometimes there’s that one dream that takes root. That one goal you work to make a reality. From the baseball diamond to the soybean field, or anywhere in between, making it to the “show” requires deter-mination, dogged pursuit of excellence, teamwork and good coaching. Just ask Dan Arkels, record-breaking soybean grower from Peru, Ill. Arkels understands all about reaching goals and striving for success. From a 160-acre farm in 1980, Arkels has cultivated his family’s efforts into a 3,250-acre corn and soybean farm in La Salle County. This spring he set his sights on a new goal — a soybean yield barrier that had yet to be officially broken.

DAN ARKELS, PERU, IL >

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“My goal was to be the first person in Illinois to record soybean yields of more than 100 bushels,”says Arkels. “I always believed it could be done, but I knew I would have to put forth effort if I wasgoing to do it.” The soybean yield goal he set is just one more target on his quest to improve his agricultural skills and profitable crop production objectives. Arkels has posted several top finishes as the Illinois winnerof the National Corn Yield Contest conducted by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).He attained firsthand experience and learned what it took to contend in a yield competition. Even so, Arkels admits that the Illinois Soybean Association’s 100-Bushel Challenge, funded by

the soybean checkoff, was formidable. “It’s really hard to raise beans to yield at these high levels,” he explains. “You have to do everything right every step of the way, and you especially need timely rains to make these high yields.” Despite these challenges, Arkels embarked on his mission. As in baseball, the season is long andrequires careful planning and management to reduce errors and clear the way to victory. > > > > > > > >

Arkels harvested his 100-Bushel Yield Challenge plots at his La Salle County farm on Oct. 10 with two approved verifiers, Jeff Townsend (left) and John Garrity (right) .

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DRAFT A DREAM TEAM Like all great seasons, the 2014 plan for Arkels’ test plot was built on key fundamentals and a team strategy of good soils, good genetics and getting plants off to a strong start. THE FIELD. He selected a field owned by Diana Schorn with primarily Muscatune and Sable soils, known for their ability to retain moisture in dry weather. An added bonus? Soybeans only had been planted in the field once in the past 15 years, “That’s one of the reasons I chose it,” says Arkels. “There haven’t been a lot of soybeans in it the last few years and that helps to reduce disease and cyst pressure, which I knew would help us in terms of yield.” THE GENES. Arkels believed variety selection was critical to success, so he askedhis seed dealer to help choose the Pioneer variety best suited to meetthe 100-Bushel Challenge. George A. Lukach, owner of Lukach Pioneer Seed Agency, recommended 34T07RR2 with a 3.4 maturity rating. “It was new for 2014, but the variety had demonstrated tremendous yield potential in plots and in field demonstrations.”

Arkels typically plants a 2.8 maturity variety. The slightly latermaturity helped extend the amount of sunlight available to the plant during the growing season. THE START. To make the most of genetic potential, Arkels chose a population of 182,000 plants per acre for his plot, which is comparable to what he uses on the rest of his production acres. “We use a planter for 15-inch rows to make sure each seed has its own space,” he notes. “You can’t grow top yields if you dribble seeds out there unevenly.” Because of his commitment to 15-inch rows, Arkels needed a plant of medium height and width that would provide good stand ability. “Managing plant height is important if you’re going to produce higher-yielding soybeans,” says Lukach. “When crowded at higher populations, some beans will grow taller and lodge, causing the lower canopy to lose the ability to capture sunlight.” Arkels planted his field May 8,and the game was on. Arkels planted his other soybean acres by the end of May. Based on what he’s learned, his goal for next year is to have all of his soybeans planted by May 20 and earlier if conditions allow. “If you can get the crops planted earlier and keep diseases out and 10

insect pressure under control, your plants will be taller, bushier and able to capture more sunlight in key parts of the growing season.” TRIPLE PLAY Winning takes both a strong offense and a good defense, andArkels’ team executed consistently all season with a triple play focus on fertility, weed control and plant health. They responded to changing plant demands and wrangled yield-robbers. All of the in-seasondecisions focused on one goal: reducing crop stress to save as many blossoms and pods as possible. FERTILITY. Arkels recalls speaking with an agronomist early in the year who questioned how he would provide the estimated 600 pounds of nitrogen (N) needed to produce 100-bushel soybeans. The team used a combination of dry, preplant and foliar nitrogen to add 150 units of N throughout the season. “Splitting that application is absolutely key, as is the use of a foliar product,” he says. “Without foliar feeding, we wouldn’t have broken 100 bushels.”

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Using HarvestMax, a foliar nutrition product from Grainco FS, they provided a mix of nitrogen, sulfur, manganese, iron and zinc. Meeting all of the crop’s macro- and micro-nutrient needs was an important goal for the team. “You can’t grow 100-bushel soybeans using maintenance fertilizer rates or just relying on what’s left from the previous year,” Arkels clarifies. “You must fertilize for your yield goal because you can’t mine the soil and not put down what the plant will need to get through the growing season.” WEED CONTROL. Effective weed control also contributed to the success of Arkels’dream beans. He described the field as absolutely clean with noweed pressure. The team’s program? Start with Verdict preplant herbicide; spraywith Abundit Extra when beans are two to three inches tall and repeat the application two weeks later. Arkels does not have issues with herbicide-resistant weeds on his farm and credits lack of weeds to the use of 15-inch rows and acommitment to spraying early.

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3 PLANT HEALTH. Another key to high yields is ensuring soybeans are as healthy as possible. Arkels estimates that despite record-breaking yields, the dry weather in July cost him about 10 bushels per acre in yield. “Beans were starting to moisture- stress because July was so dry,” he says.“They were flowering and setting pods, so any stress at that time meant aborted pods.” Arkels says that research has shown stressed soybeans will abort about 75 percent of their flowers, so working to keep even a few of those can make a big yield difference. Arkels credits Stoller USA products he applied throughout the season, including Bio-Forgeand Stimulate, with helping his plants optimize plant hormonal balance, reduce plant stress and retain more flowers and pods through the dry spell. “We think in-season applications helped keep them from aborting,” he says.

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POST-SEASON RE-CAP Arkels believes the game plan was wildly successful. He recorded afinal yield of 103.95 bushels per acre on a 3.73-acre plot, as verifiedby Jeff Townsend, 1st Farm Credit, Ottawa, Ill., and John Garrity,Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ottawa. That marks thefirst-ever verified soybean yield to top 100 bushels per acre in theISA Yield Challenge program. Last year’s average yield in Illinois was49 bushels per acre. While the main goal of Yield Challenge projects is to push the yieldlimits of a crop, profitability plays a key role in all farm managementdecisions. Arkels says that the extra investment he put into his Yield Challenge plot yielded 25 more bushels per acre than what his normal pro-duction acres produce. “Growers interested in the profitability of a high-yield management system will

need to do the math to see what will pay on their farms,” he says. “Even at today’s prices, we made money on the project, because it paid to invest in the extra trips to keep the plants healthy.” Don Stork, regional manager for Stoller USA, says it seemscounterintuitive, but one of the team’s goals was not to compel Arkels to spend money. “If we invested money to treat the plant, it was for a specific purpose. We all agreed on it and had science to back up how it contributed to return on investment (ROI).” Turning in record-setting yields isn’t the end of the road for Arkels and his team. With four different treatment zones in the same 114-acre field, Dave Callan, Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) and specialist with Grainco FS, says that the postseason will include some additional analysis. > > > > > > > > > > > >

“We’re hoping to see some differences in the yield map. We’ll sit down together this winter to sort out what truly is giving us the best bang for the buck,” he notes. “After we’ve sorted out the most effective treatments, we’ll move those to Dan’s production acres.” As for Arkels, his bucket list is now a little shorter. “In my world, this is like winning the World Series,” says Arkels. “Someone needed to be the first to prove it’s possible to raise 100-bushel soybeans in Illinois. I was lucky I had the right team and the right growing season to do it.”

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THE ARKELS TEAM JOHN GLASCOCK, GEORGE LUKACH,ALICE ARKELS, DAN ARKELS, DAVE CALLAN

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Funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff.

Learn more at soyyieldchallenge.com Call 888-826-4011