UT’s ‘Top Bean’ Contest, sponsored by TN Soybean Promotion Board

Our contest has been growing each year, with over 50 entries submitted last year.  This is a great opportunity for producers to show off some of their high yielding fields while giving us an idea of their practices used to achieve them.

Growers are encouraged to work with their local county Extension agent to enter their best irrigated and dryland fields and compete for ‘Top Bean’ in the state.  Tennessee is divided into five yield districts for the contest.  District winners will receive awards and all district winners will compete for state winner in irrigated and dryland production.

Producers (farm entity) are allowed to submit in two categories; one irrigated submission and one non-irrigated submission.  As so, a producer may only submit one entry per category.  Producers may submit in two districts if they submit an irrigated from one district and a non-irrigated from a different district.

Agents with access to a weigh wagon can use their wagon to weigh contest harvest, and document weight on a new UT weight certification form. Producers and agents without access to a calibrated weigh wagon should continue to weigh harvested seed at a nearby certified scale and include a copy of the weigh ticket to certify weight.

An entry form acknowledging your intent on entering must be submitted by September 1st.  Please get with your local County Extension Office for more details and to submit your forms.

Entry form

All the rules and information on how this contest is ran are attached below.

2025 Top Bean Rules 

Use these forms at harvest to submit a completed entry.  Due December 8th, 2025

Soybean Yield Contest Harvest forms

All forms and additional information can be found at your local Extension office or email rblair2@utk.edu