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Z-Series Soybeans5/22/2025
Achieving 100 bu/acre Yields in Soybeans
Crop Focus
Written by Mark Jeschke, Ph.D., Pioneer Agronomy Manager
Key Points
- A total of 381 Pioneer on-farm soybean trial entries in the U.S. and Canada exceeded 100 bu/acre in 2024, a new record high.
- 100 bu/acre was achieved with numerous different soybean varieties across a wide range of maturities.
- Over 2/3 of 100 bu/acre entries were planted to a new Pioneer® brand Z-Series soybean variety.
- 100 bu/acre yields were achieved across a range of different environments and agronomic practices.
Increasing Yields in Soybeans
- Improvements in genetics and management have driven substantial gains in soybean yields in the U.S. over the past 50 years, at a rate of 0.48 bu/acre/year (Figure 1).
- U.S. average soybean yields topped 50 bu/acre for the first time in 2016 and again in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
Figure 1. U.S. average soybean yields 1970-2023. (USDA-NASS)
- 100 bu/acre has often served as a target yield level for farmers seeking to see how high they can push yields with optimized management and the newest genetics.
- Across all of the on-farm genetic and agronomic trials Pioneer conducts each year in the U.S. and Canada, it has not been unusual for a few entries each year to top 100 bu/acre.
- Beginning in 2018, however; the number of entries exceeding 100 bu/acre increased dramatically (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Series of Pioneer brand soybean varieties used in Pioneer on-farm trial entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2015-2024.
- A total of 381 on-farm soybean trial entries exceeded 100 bu/acre in 2024, far exceeding the previous high of 256 in 2021.
- Over 2/3 of these entries were planted to a new Pioneer® brand Z-Series soybean variety.
- Yields over 100 bu/acre were achieved over a relatively wide geography in 2024, including 16 U.S. states and 1 Canadian province (Table 1).
Table 1. Locations of Pioneer on-farm soybean trial entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2019-2024.
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Arkansas 4 8 5 2 2 7 Delaware 4 Georgia 1 Illinois 3 14 39 5 10 85 Indiana 1 13 1 2 18 43 Iowa 1 35 23 5 60 Kansas 14 13 2 5 Kentucky 7 3 1 5 3 2 Louisiana 3 4 5 3 4 Maryland 1 1 Michigan 1 1 Minnesota 1 2 5 Mississippi 2 2 5 Missouri 3 3 5 2 5 23 Nebraska 1 40 115 32 42 112 North Carolina 7 4 12 11 3 Ohio 1 5 3 13 4 Pennsylvania 7 6 11 Quebec 1 South Dakota 1 1 Tennessee 2 2 Virginia 9 14 8 16 Wisconsin 1 1 Total 33 115 256 104 123 381
- 100 bu/acre was also achieved with large number of different varieties across a wide range of maturities, including 56 Pioneer® brand soybean varieties from maturity group 1.1 to 5.3 (Table 2).
Table 2. Pioneer brand soybean varieties used in 2024 Pioneer on-farm trials entries exceeding 100 bu/acre.
Variety/Brand1 Plots Variety/Brand1 Plots P11Z72E™ (E3) 1 P35A20™ 1 P17Z39E™(E3) 1 P35Z76E™ (E3) 15 P19Z52E™ (E3) 2 P36Z47BE™ (Bolt,E3) 1 P20Z14E™ (E3) 3 P37A18E™ (E3) 7 P21A53E™ (E3) 2 P37Z06E™ (E3) 26 P21Z71E™ (E3) 3 P38Z63E™ (E3) 9 P21Z88E™ (E3) 1 P39A78™ 1 P22A67E™ (E3) 12 P40A23E™ (E3) 1 P23Z58E™ (E3) 6 P40Z57E™ (E3) 27 P23Z82E™ (E3) 2 P41Z80BLX™ (Bolt,LL,RR2X) 2 P25A16E™ (E3) 14 P42A84E™ (E3) 5 P26Z78E™ (E3) 4 P43Z44SE™ (STS,E3) 4 P27Z41E™ (E3) 24 P44A21X™ (RR2X) 1 P28A39E™ (E3) 8 P44A60LX™ (LL,RR2X) 1 P28A51X™ (RR2X) 3 P45A70LX™ (LL,RR2X) 2 P28A65E™ (E3) 11 P45A81E™ (E3) 2 P28Z30E™ (E3) 20 P45Z75E™ (E3) 5 P28Z89E™ (E3) 9 P46A09E™ (E3) 1 P30A75E™ (E3) 29 P46A90LX™ (LL,RR2X) 5 P31A73E™ (E3) 4 P46Z53E™ (E3) 1 P31A95BX™ (Bolt,RR2X) 2 P47A64X™ (RR2X) 1 P31Z03E™ (E3) 41 P47Z15BE™ (Bolt,E3) 3 P31Z32E™ (E3) 1 P48A04LX™ (LL,RR2X) 1 P32Z91E™ (E3) 19 P48A14E™ (E3) 3 P33A85E™ (E3) 1 P48Z70BLX™ (Bolt,LL,RR2X) 3 P33Z17E™ (E3) 13 P49Z02E™ (E3) 4 P34A50™ 1 P50Z95E™ (E3) 1 P34A98E™ (E3) 10 P53Z60LX™ (LL,RR2X) 1 ¹All Pioneer products denoted with ™ are brand names.
Pioneer® brand soybean varieties topping 100 bu/acre in on-farm trials in 2024 included:
- 42 Enlist E3® varieties
- 30 Z-Series varieties
- 11 varieties with Peking SCN resistance source
Top 3 Performing Varieties in 2024:
- P31Z03E™ - 41 entries over 100 bu/acre
- P30A75E™ - 29 entries over 100 bu/acre
- P30A75E™ - 29 entries over 100 bu/acre
Agronomic Practices for Soybeans
- 100 bu/acre yields were achieved in a range of different environments and with a range of different agronomic practices.
- Analyses of management practices used in yield contest winners in other crops have produced similar findings (Jeschke, 2025), indicating that there is no single one-size-fits-all formula for achieving high yield potential.
Tillage
- The most common tillage system used at locations with 100 bu/acre plots over the past 4 years was conventional tillage, followed by no-till (Figure 3).
- Tillage practices varied by geography:
- Conventional tillage was more common in the eastern Corn Belt, comprising around 2/3 of 100 bu/acre plots in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- Iowa plots were split roughly evenly between conventional tillage (48%) and no-till or strip-till (43%).
- Over half of Nebraska plots were no-till or strip till (56%) and North Carolina plots were predominantly no-till (68%).
Figure 3. Tillage practices used in Pioneer on-farm trials with entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2021-2024.
Seeding Rate
- Seeding rates used in plots yielding above 100 bu/acre ranged from 89,000 seeds/acre to 200,000 seeds/acre, with the majority between 140,000 and 170,000 seeds/acre (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Seeding rate used in Pioneer on-farm trials with entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2021-2024.
Row Spacing
- The most common row spacing of 100 bu/acre plots was 30-inch rows, followed closely by 15-inch rows (Figure 5).
- Geographic distribution of row spacing practices roughly corresponded with findings of recent USDA surveys, with 30-inch rows most common from Iowa west and narrower rows more common from Illinois east (Jeschke and Lutt, 2016).
Figure 5. Row spacing used in Pioneer on-farm trials with entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2021-2024.
Planting Date
- Recent research has shown the importance of early plantingfor maximizing soybean yields (Van Roekel, 2019). Most trial locations with 100 bu/acre plots were planted in the latter half of April through the first week of May (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Planting date of Pioneer on-farm trials with entries exceeding 100 bu/acre, 2021-2024.
References
- Jeschke, M. 2025. Managing Corn for Greater Yield. Pioneer Crop Insights Vol. 35 No. 1. Corteva Agriscience. Johnston, IA.
- Jeschke, M., and N. Lutt. 2016. Row Width in Soybean Production. Pioneer Crop Insights Vol. 26 No. 12.
- Van Roekel, R. 2019. The Importance of Early Planting for Soybeans in the Midwest. Pioneer Crop Focus Vol. 11 No. 1. Corteva Agriscience. Johnston, IA.
A generational leap for soybeans.
Following burndown, Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides with Colex-D® technology are the only herbicides containing 2,4-D that are authorized for preemergence and postemergence use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for use or sale in all states and counties; are not registered in AK, CA, CT, HI, ID, MA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA and WY; and have additional subcounty restrictions in AL, GA, TN and TX, while existing county restrictions still remain in FL. All users must check “Bulletins Live! Two” no earlier than six months before using Enlist One or Enlist Duo. To obtain “Bulletins,” consult epa.gov/espp/, call 1-844-447-3813, or email ESPP@epa.gov. You must use the “Bulletin” valid for the month and state and county in which Enlist One or Enlist Duo are being applied. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency if you have questions about the registration status of Enlist® herbicides in your area. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO USE ANY PESTICIDE PRODUCT OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS LABELING. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 2,4-D-CONTAINING PRODUCTS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE WITH ENLIST CROPS, MAY RESULT IN OFF-TARGET DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE CROPS/AREAS AND/OR SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES. Additional product-specific stewardship requirements for Enlist crops, including the Enlist Product Use Guide, can be found at www.traitstewardship.com.
Always follow stewardship practices in accordance with the Product Use Guide (PUG) or other product-specific stewardship requirements including grain marketing and pesticide label directions. Varieties with BOLT® technology provide excellent plant-back flexibility for soybeans following application of sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides as a component of a burndown program or for double-crop soybeans following SU herbicides applied to wheat the previous fall.
DO NOT APPLY DICAMBA HERBICIDE IN-CROP TO SOYBEANS WITH Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology unless you use a dicamba herbicide product that is specifically labeled for that use in the location where you intend to make the application. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO MAKE AN IN-CROP APPLICATION OF ANY DICAMBA HERBICIDE PRODUCT ON SOYBEANS WITH Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology, OR ANY OTHER PESTICIDE APPLICATION, UNLESS THE PRODUCT LABELING SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZES THE USE. Contact the U.S. EPA and your state pesticide regulatory agency with any questions about the approval status of dicamba herbicide products for in-crop use with soybeans with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Soybeans with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate and dicamba. Glyphosate herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Dicamba will kill crops that are not tolerant to dicamba.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: No dicamba herbicide has been approved for use in-crop with seed containing Roundup Ready® Xtend Technology for the 2025 spray season at this time. No dicamba herbicide may be used in-crop with this seed unless and until such use is approved or specifically permitted.
Corteva Agriscience is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Corteva Agriscience products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance and in compliance with the Corteva Agriscience policies regarding stewardship of those products. In line with these guidelines, our product launch process for responsible launches of new products includes a longstanding process to evaluate export market information, value chain consultations, and regulatory functionality. Growers and end-users must take all steps within their control to follow appropriate stewardship requirements and confirm their buyer’s acceptance of the grain or other material being purchased. For more detailed information on the status of a trait or stack, please visit www.biotradestatus.com.
STS® APPROVED HERBICIDE STATEMENT: This variety contains a trait providing enhanced tolerance to labeled specific sulfonylurea soybean herbicides. The STS® gene will not safeguard this variety against other herbicide chemistries which are labeled to be used only over-the-top of crops that have a different and specified herbicide resistant gene. Always read and follow herbicide directions prior to use. Not all herbicides are registered for sale or use in all states or counties in the United States or all provinces in Canada. Contact your local regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your area. Always read and follow label directions. ACCIDENTAL APPLICATION OF INCOMPATIBLE HERBICIDES TO THIS VARIETY COULD RESULT IN TOTAL CROP LOSS. YOU MUST SIGN A TECHNOLOGY USE AGREEMENT AND READ THE PRODUCT USE GUIDE PRIOR TO PLANTING. The purchase of these seeds includes a limited license to produce a single soybean crop in the United States (or other applicable country). The use of seed from such a crop or the progeny thereof for propagation or seed multiplication or for production or development of a hybrid or different variety of seed is strictly prohibited. Resale or transfer of the seed is strictly prohibited.
LL - Contains the LibertyLink® gene for resistance to glufosinate.
Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® is a registered trademark of Bayer Group used under license. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of BASF.
The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales professional for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.