Blog

Georgia farmer Randy Dowdy, 2016 U.S. soybean yield record holder at 171.8 bushels per acre, spoke at a seminar Friday, Jan. 20, in Bloomington, Illinois. Hosted by the ISA checkoff program, Dowdy discussed how to maximize yield while optimizing return on investment. The event, sponsored by the Illinois Corn Growers Association and FS InVISION^™ and FS HiSOY^®, hosted over 250 growers and retailers.

Dowdy focused on the importance of asking the right questions and understanding the “why” to the way things are done in production agriculture. He said the difference between a good farmer and a great farmer is time, and attention to detail.

Dowdy encouraged growers to utilize frequent tissue testing and soil moisture probes with ion sensors to measure fertilizer movement and position through the soil profile, making sure the nutrients are at the right plant when the plant needs them. When growers are looking to increase pod number and fill them out, they need to understand the nutrient demands at R1, R3 and R5 and make sure you are giving the plant exactly what it needs.

The day was spent discussing traditional and new farming methods, understanding nutrient levels, reviewing data sets and explaining some of the practices and technologies that have helped him succeed.