100 Bushel Beans

Don Brantley of Brantley Farming Company in England, Ark., thought that he might never see the day when he harvested soybeans at 100 bushels per acre. But that all changed this year when he planted Stine 4782-4 Brand soybeans.

In preparing for his 2008 soybean crop, Brantley consulted his local seed supplier, Scooter Hodges at Stratton Seed, for help in selecting the right soybeans for his farm.

“Scooter asked me about soil types, possible diseases and field-by-field crop history,” says Brantley. Based on Hodges’ recommendation, Brantley planted 600 units of Stine 4782-4 Brand on irrigated fields ranging from sandy loam to clay. The crop was planted using a twin row planter.

As harvest approached, Brantley says he was anxious to see how the Stine soybeans had performed. The overall average yield of 4782-4 Brand across all his acres planted was an impressive 75 bushels per acre. One field in particular – a 30-acre clay soil field that had been planted to corn the year before – topped 100 bushels per acre!

Brantley was quick to point out that this 100-bushel yield average occurred not in some tiny manicured plot, but across a 30-acre field that was not managed any differently than any of his other fields. In fact, Brantley’s 2008 soybean crop had to withstand not one, but two hurricanes! Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike both swept through the area, bringing heavy rains and high winds to the region during the 2008 growing season.

Brantley says his experience with 4782-4 Brand in 2008 showed him the power – and profits – that good soybean genetics can provide.

“We have never cut soybeans at 100 bushels per acre before this year,” says Brantley. “We will definitely plant Stine 4782-4 Brand soybeans again!