Lyle Longnecker of Dickinson County has claimed his third victory in the Kansas Soybean Value Contest, emphasizing the quality and value of his soybeans rather than focusing solely on production. Competing in a district that spans areas with cooler temperatures and more rainfall, Longnecker has found innovative ways to succeed in a challenging growing environment.
“It means a lot,” Longnecker said. “It’s something I’ve enjoyed doing, and I’ve always been fascinated with soybeans and growing them.”
Recognizing the limitations of his region, Longnecker focused on the value contest, which evaluates protein, oil content, and other factors beyond simple yield. A key part of his success has been finding the right seed variety. This year, Longnecker used Beck’s hybrid soybeans, a short-season variety that has proven ideal for his strategy.
Beck’s seeds became part of Longnecker’s operation thanks to his family’s connections in Illinois. “My daughter was living in Illinois, and I brought back five bags of seed to compare,” Longnecker explained. “I’ve been planting short-season beans ever since.” He initially tested Beck’s hybrids against his standard Asgrow beans and found the results impressive. “They were comparable to my Asgrow beans, but I planted more Beck’s beans this year because they’ve really stood out.”
One reason Beck’s hybrid soybeans work so well in Longnecker’s value-focused approach is their adaptability to early planting and their ability to handle stress. “I love the short-season beans,” he said. “You can add foliar nitrogen and micronutrients to prolong the maturity of them, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Stress, such as heat or moisture deficiencies, actually plays a critical role in enhancing the value of his beans. “You don’t want a great big bean to win. It’s the ones that are stressed more. That’s where your high-value beans are going to be,” Longnecker explained. Stress encourages the plants to bush out more, growing slower but with tighter nodes, leading to pods clustered closely together. “The pods are actually hanging down on the top of the pods below. That’s how thick they are.”
Longnecker’s planting strategy is also carefully tailored. He plants his corn early—sometimes as early as March—and immediately begins planting beans after the corn is in. “I’ve never had a failure with 105-day corn in 10–15 years, and the beans are the same way.” By combining thoughtful seed selection, precise timing, and an understanding of his growing conditions, Longnecker has become a standout competitor in the Kansas Soybean
By Jayson Henderson
