Soybean production in Kentucky comprises approximately 1.3 million acres of agricultural land use. Revenue from this crop accounts for $300 million statewide. Since the 1950s, soybean production began to gain popularity. In the American production agriculture system. Currently, soybean production constitutes for the second largest row crop (based on acreage) in the Untied States

Beginning in 1980, an annual soybean yield contest has been held in Kentucky. Administered by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, this contest allows valuable insight to best management practices that may result in increased value of Kentucky soybean. Samantha Anderson, McCracken County Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with local producers, contributed valuable date to this project. For the 2020 harvest season, the high yield recorded in McCracken County was 84.74 bushels per acre. Full results from the 2020 Soybean Yield and Quality Contest can be found in PR-795 (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/PR/PR795/PR795.pdf).

Participants in this contest described their appreciate or the ability to showcase their best management practices, as well as learn from other producers across the Commonwealth. Production practices detailed include plating and harvest dates, row width, seeding rates, as well as fertilizer and chemical best practices.