ST. LOUIS (March 20, 2017) – As the American farmer strives to meet the growing demand for corn required to satisfy increasing world demand, one area grower has been honored for their efforts through the 2016 National Corn Yield Contest. The national contest, sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association, recognizes farmers from across the country for their exceptional efforts.
Steve Southern of Cartersville, GA, placed 2 in the state in the E: No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class with a yield of 281.1246 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was DEKALB DKC62-08. The winning field was located in GA.
Steve Southern was one of 400 state winners nationwide. The 2016 contest participation included 7,979 entries from 46 states. Of the state winners, 18 growers – three from each of six classes – were named national winners, representing nine states.
The average yield among national winners was 374.7 bushels per acre – greater than the projected 2016 U.S. average of 175.3 bushels per acre. Five of the national winners recorded yields of 400 bushels or more per acre.
“This harvest, the world witnessed the incredible bounty U.S. corn farmers can provide to meet the growing need for food, fuel and fiber both in our nation and around the world,” said NCGA President Wesley Spurlock, a corn grower from Stratford, Texas.
“Our contest participants demonstrated that America’s farmers continue to strive for excellence while adopting state-of-the-art tools which help them meet those goals,” Spurlock continued. “The top yield in this year’s contest – a tremendous 521.3968 bushels per acre achieved by Randy Dowdy of Valdosta, GA – is a testament to these efforts.”
The winners were recognized March 3th at the 2017 Commodity Classic, the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum, wheat and equipment industries, held this year in San Antonio, TX.