Local growers win awards in National Yield Contest

Herring Farms, Harpster, placed second and third in the nation in the AA non-irrigated class of the 2011 Corn Yield Contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. NCGA Board Chairman Bart Schott (from left) presented the trophies to Phil Herring, third place, and James Herring, second place, during the Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

ST. LOUIS — Two area corn growers have been honored as winners in the 2011 National Corn Yield Contest, sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association.
Jim Herring, of Harpster, placed second in the nation in the AA non-Irrigated class with a yield of 305.775 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was DEKALB DKC63-84.
Jeff Bassler, of Upper Sandusky, placed third in the state in the AA non-Irrigated class with a yield of 288.7927 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was DEKALB DKC59-64.
The local growers were among 411 state winners nationwide. The 2011 contest had a record 8,431 entries from 46 states. Of the state winners, 18 growers — three from each of eight classes — were named national winners, representing 12 states.
The average yield among national winners was 313.1 bushels per acre — greater than the 2011 U.S. average of 146.7 bushels per acre. Ten entrants recorded yields of 300 bushels or more per acre.

Jeff Bassler of Upper Sandusky, placed third in the state in the AA non-irrigated class of the 2011 Corn Yield Contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. Bassler (left) accepted a trophy from Don Glenn during the during the annual Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn. Glenn, a corn grower from Hillsboro, Ark., is vice chairman of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team.

“It’s great to see so many growers taking part in this annual contest,” said NCGA Chairman Bart Schott, a corn grower from Kulm, N.D. “Their spirit of innovation and competitiveness is what makes America’s farmers so great. That’s why this contest and its focus on safe, advanced corn production methods are so important. The top yield in this year’s contest — an amazing 429.0 bushels per acre achieved by David Hula of Charles City, Va., — is a testament to these efforts.”
Farmers are encouraged through the contest to utilize new, efficient production techniques. Agronomic data gleaned from the contest reveal the following:
— The average planting population for the national winners was 37,139 seeds per acre, compared to 33,510 for all entrants.
— National winners applied an average of 269 pounds of nitrogen, 97 pounds of phosphorus and 141 pounds of potassium per acre.
— Average commercial nitrogen use per bushel of yield was .85 pounds for the national winners and .95 pounds for all entrants.
— Thirty-three percent of the national winners applied trace minerals, compared to 29 percent of all entrants.
— Seventeen percent of national winners applied manure, compared to 15 percent of all entrants.
The National Corn Yield Contest began in 1965 with 20 entries from three states. The highest overall yield was 218.9 bushels per acre, while the national yield average was in the mid-60 bushel-per-acre range.
The winners were recognized March 2 at the 2012 Commodity Classic — the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat industries — held in Nashville, Tenn. For a complete list of winners and for more information about NCYC, visit the NCGA website at www.ncga.com.
The National Corn Growers Association represents more than 35,000 members, 48 affiliated state corn grower and checkoff organizations, and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.

Posted by Daily Chief on April 10, 2012. Filed under Farm Country. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry