JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo., is keeping record book keepers busy. Cullers outdid himself by growing an astounding 154.7 bushels of soybeans per acre, beating his own world record established last year with 139.39 bushels per acre. He accomplished his record-breaking production by planting Pioneer® 94M80 soybeans on an irrigated and conventionally-tilled field near Stark City, Mo. Cullers attributes an intensive plant management program to his success.
"I treat soybeans as a valuable commodity and scout my fields at least once a day," Cullers says. "Paying close attention to detail is important to farmers looking to increase yields. It all starts with selecting the right seed and keeping your plants healthy."
"Kip's record crop from last year proved most growers have yet to maximize the yield potential of soybeans," says Dale R. Ludwig executive director/CEO of the Missouri Soybean Association (MSA). "This is a substantiated example of how intensive crop management results in high returns and unprecedented soybean yields."
The record-setting yield was harvested on Oct. 6, 2007 and verified by MSA officials. Cullers said planting seed with a high yield potential and protecting his plants with Headline® fungicide applications were the two biggest reasons for his success last year. Cullers decided to take his proven method and improve upon it with two new ideas for 2007.
"I used Optimize®, a soybean growth promoter, to dramatically improve the size of my roots and a new twin-row planter manufactured by Monosem," says Cullers. "The planter enabled me to be more precise with seed placement than drilling."
Cullers co-owns and operates a diversified farm, K&K Farms, located southeast of Joplin, Mo. Cullers has been involved in farming for more than 20 years, owning or managing farms in Newton and Barry counties in Missouri. He manages more than 5,000 acres of corn, soybeans, green beans and greens-spinach, collard, kale, mustard and turnips. The farming operation is located in Missouri's fertile Newtonia red soil. K&K Farms also includes beef, hay and poultry. Cullers and his wife, Michelle, have two sons, Noah and Naaman.
MSA is a membership organization comprised of more than 1,700 farmers from across the state. The purpose of MSA is to communicate challenges facing farmers and rural Missouri to legislators at both the state and national level to increase profitability for Missouri soybean farmers. MSA is directed by a volunteer board of 16 farmer leaders.
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11/13/2007
Contact:
Adam Buckallew, MSA Director of Public Relations (573) 635-3819
United States
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