South Georgia farmer Randy Dowdy is the new world record holder in soybean yield, and he credits University of Georgia Cooperative Extension for playing a role in his success.

A Brooks County, Georgia, farmer, Dowdy was recognized by UGA Extension Agronomist Jared Whitaker at an event on Friday, Sept. 9, in Tifton, Georgia, for producing 171.8 bushels per acre of soybeans. This is 10 bushels more than the previous record holder.

Dowdy holds the world record in corn yield. He also grows peanuts and wheat.

Dowdy believes UGA played a vital part in this achievement, which Whitaker believed unattainable just a couple of years ago.

“We always have ideas and we always have concerns and we always have things that we don’t understand as farmers, and I have tapped into the UGA resource quite often, whether it’s at the local county agent level or at the university level,” Dowdy said. “They bring a wealth of information. They’ve been doing this for a long time. I’m not interested in reinventing those wheels. They’re open to new ideas and vetting new concepts. That’s been a good deal.”

According to Whitaker, Georgia farmers average 37 soybean bushels per acre every year, although that number increases to over 60 bushels per acre for farmers who irrigate their soybeans. Still, Dowdy’s feat is more than four times the state average. He is the only Georgia farmer to have officially produced more than 100 bushels per acre. It’s a staggering accomplishment considering Dowdy has only been farming soybeans since 2014.

“He has taken what the University of Georgia has done and worked with a lot of industry people to try to push the boundaries of yield potential,” Whitaker said. “The first year he did it, he broke 100 bushels and he’s increased that each year.”

Whitaker said Dowdy’s achievement is extremely impressive considering the environmental factors that soybean producers must overcome in south Georgia.

“It’s a world record, which stands on its own. But the fact that it came from south Georgia is the most impressive thing,” Whitaker said. “Our soils are dry to the point of drought. Our temperatures are hot. Soybeans typically do not flourish in those environments. The fact that it’s a world record in south Georgia is beyond my belief.”

Dowdy’s record-setting yields occurred on 3.15 of the 2,000-plus acres he farms. The crop was planted April 22 and April 23 in Brooks County and was harvested on Aug. 28. Ben Shirley, the UGA Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Brooks County, confirmed Dowdy’s contest entry.

“Specifically, Randy works diligently to eliminate stress to the plant via soil fertility and soil moisture and to limit losses via insects and diseases. He also harvested the crop in an extremely timely manner,” Whitaker said.

According to the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, more than 289,000 acres of soybeans were planted in Georgia in 2014 with a farm gate value of over $125 million. Brooks County is the top producer of soybeans in the state.