Roundup Ready 2 Yield Challenge

Monsanto just printed an article about Mark winning a soybean yield contest in several area newspapers. It's been a lot of fun hearing peoples response to this, thanks for all the well wishes! Below are a few pictures of the field and a copy of the article Monsanto wrote about Mark. We look forward to telling you about the trip next month, and maybe we'll come home with the grand prize, a Ranger fishing boat!

Mark, Elijah and Amelia standing in our bean field on July 5th. As a family we spent some time walking through the field looking for a 5-bean pod. (This was another contest Monsanto was doing.) While we weren't successful at finding a 5-bean pod it was good family time for us.

A picture of us harvesting the plot area for the contest. It isn't the best picture but it shows how tall the beans are when you look at Dana walking through the field. The 40 acre field averaged 77 bushels per acre and our plot area was 89.3 bushels per acre. Very impressive for our area!

Another picture doing the yield check.


Local Farmer Named Finalist in Soybean Yield Contest

Mark Boender wins trip to California and chance at grand prize
Oskaloosa, Iowa, February 5, Farmer Mark Boender of Oskaloosa, Iowa, has been named a finalist in a soybean yield contest involving new soybean technology designed to help farmers increase their yield and profit potential.
With his 89.3-bushel-per-acre entry, Boender is one of three finalists in the Asgrow® brand Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield® Challenge. He will receive a $1,000 prize and a trip for two to the upcoming 2010 Commodity Classic – one of the nation’s top farm trade shows – in Anaheim, California. There he will have the opportunity to speak with agribusiness leaders, network with other successful farmers from around the country and possibly win the grand prize, an Asgrow edition Ranger® bass boat.
Mark Boender has been raising corn and soybeans for the past 10 years. He currently farms with his father, Steve, and brothers, Mike, BJ, Kurt and Karl. He was among the first U.S. farmers to plant Asgrow Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans in 2009 and is excited to plant them again this spring. "I can’t speak for other farmers, but on our farm if your yield averages get above 60, you’re doing pretty well," he says. "We’re really excited about this technology."
Boender and his wife, Stacy, look forward to attending the Commodity Classic and hope to bring back the grand-prize as their souvenir. "We’re pretty pumped," Boender says. "We get more excited every day."
The Asgrow brand Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield Challenge was established to recognize farmers and generate enthusiasm for the latest soybean trait innovation – Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield, which enables the same dependable, flexible weed control that farmers have experienced for over a decade with first-generation Roundup Ready® soybeans, now with significantly higher yield potential.
Farmers interested in more information about planting Asgrow Genuity™ Roundup Ready 2 Yield in 2010 can contact their local seed dealer or visit Asgrow.com.
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: http://www.monsanto.com//ohttp://www.monsanto.com/blocked::http://www.monsanto.com/. Follow our business on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo/ohttp://www.twitter.com/MonsantoCoblocked::http://www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo/ohttp://www.facebook.com/MonsantoCoblocked::http://www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.