ST. LOUIS — Area corn growers have been honored as state winners in the 2014 National Corn Yield contest sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association.

Brenda Voter York of Farmington placed second in the state in the A Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 197.8779 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 38N86.

York also placed third in the state in the A Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 189.7400 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 38N86.

Linwood York of Farmington placed second in the state in the A No-Till/Strip-Till NonIrrigated Class with a yield of 161.7548 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 39B22.

Sandy River Farms of Farmington placed third in the state in the A No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 142.2071 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 38N86.

The local growers were among 434 state winners nationwide. The 2014 contest set a participation record with 8,129 entries from 46 states. Of the state winners, 18 growers – three from each of six classes – were named national winners, representing ten states.

The average yield among national winners was 383.56 bushels per acre – greater than the 2014 U.S. average of 171.00 bushels per acre. Six 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 Chip Bowling, a corn grower from Newberg, Md.

“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,” Bowling continued. “The top yield in this year’s contest – a tremendous 503.719 bushels per acre achieved by Randy Rowdy of Valdosta, Ga, – 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:

• Average planting population for the national winners was 36,417 seeds per acre, compared to 34,075 for all entrants.

• National winners applied an average of 369.17 pounds of nitrogen, 116.72 pounds of phosphorus and 195.00 pounds of potassium per acre.

• Average commercial nitrogen use per bushel of yield was 1.09 pounds for the national winners and 0.88 pounds for all entrants.

• 33.33 percent of the national winners applied trace minerals, compared to 37.16 percent of all entrants.

• Use of manure as a fertilizer was consistent. 5.56 percent of national winners applied manure, compared to 14.79 percent of all entrants.

The National Corn Yield Contest began in 1956 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 February 27 at the 2015 Commodity Classic, the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat industries, held this year in Phoenix, AZ.

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 42,000 members, 48 affiliated state corn grower and checkoff organizations, and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.

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