HARRINGTON, Del. — Delaware soybean farmers have achieved an unprecedented breakthrough in the state’s agricultural history, with two growers becoming the first to surpass 100 bushels per acre in the Delaware Soybean Board’s annual competition.
The Delaware Soybean Board has revealed the winners of their 2025 yield competition, celebrating farmers throughout the First State who demonstrated outstanding production achievements and farming techniques.
This year’s competition created agricultural history as it witnessed not only the first growers to cross the century mark in bushels per acre, but also established a new state yield record.
“These record-setting yields highlight the skill and dedication of Delaware soybean growers,” said Tim Rogers, chairman of the Delaware Soybean Board. “Breaking the 100-bushel mark twice in one year, while also setting a new statewide record, speaks to the strong management practices being implemented across the state.”
Sussex County farmer Blaine Hitchens claimed the top spot statewide in the Full-Season Irrigated division, establishing a new Delaware Soybean Yield Contest record with an exceptional harvest of 106.68 bushels per acre. Hitchens cultivated Pioneer P37T51PR soybean varieties, which he planted on April 21, resulting in the highest production ever documented in the contest’s history.
Fellow Sussex County grower Billy O’Day also broke the 100-bushel barrier, securing Sussex County Full-Season recognition with a harvest of 105.02 bushels per acre. O’Day grew Pioneer 37A18 soybeans, also planted on April 21, making 2025 the inaugural year that contest participants achieved production levels exceeding 100 bushels per acre.
In the statewide Double-Crop division, New Castle County’s Bob Willoughby Jr. took first place with a harvest of 65.47 bushels per acre from Seed Consultants SC7485E varieties, which he planted on June 29.
Kent County farmer Tyler Shaffer claimed the statewide Non-Irrigated championship, producing 78.57 bushels per acre from Seed Consultants SC7444E soybeans planted on June 23.
Other county-level Full-Season champions included Kent County’s John Comegys, who produced 67.33 bushels per acre with Seed Consultants SC7375E planted on May 3, and New Castle County’s Robbie Emerson, who achieved 76.53 bushels per acre using FS HS41E20 varieties planted on May 6.
For the Double-Crop county division, Dickerson Farms O.G. of Sussex County captured top recognition with 61.65 bushels per acre, cultivating Pioneer P40257E soybeans planted on July 20.
The Delaware Soybean Board launched the Delaware Soybean Yield Contest in 2012, providing farmers with opportunities to identify crop varieties and farming strategies that have demonstrated success in regional growing conditions.
Throughout its 12-year existence, the competition has attracted more than 200 participants, honoring farmers’ achievements in both full season and double-cropped soybean production across irrigated and non-irrigated farmland.
Contest participants can access comprehensive competition details and results at https://desoybeans.org/yield-contest/.
Delaware agriculture includes approximately 150,000 acres of soybean cultivation each year, yielding more than seven million bushels and contributing roughly $60 million in economic value to the state. The Delaware Soybean Board includes nine farmer-directors along with the Secretary of Agriculture.
The organization operates through a checkoff program funded by a half-percent assessment on soybeans’ net market value at initial sale, collaborating with industry partners to identify opportunities that enhance farmer profitability.
