Records are made to be broken, and the record for high-yielding corn has been broken once again, according to the National Corn Growers Association 2015 National Corn Yield Contest results.
A record five national entries eclipsed 400 bu. per acre, and the all-time high yield is now 532 bu. per acre from David Hula, a Virginia farmer. That bests Georgia grower Randy Dowdy’s monster haul of nearly 504 bu. per acre last year – the first time any entrant had surpassed the 500-bushel milestone.
Brent Hostetler, who chairs the NCGA’s production and stewardship action team, says the contest isn’t just about friendly competition but also shapes best practices over time.
“The techniques contest winners first develop grow into broad advances that help farmers across the country excel in a variety of situations,” he says. “Our contest emphasizes how innovation, from growers and technology providers alike, enables us to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber.”
The 18 total winners averaged 386.4 bu. per acre, more than doubling the national average of 169.3 bu. per acre.
Winners will travel to New Orleans in March 2016 for Commodity Classic and will be honored during the NCGA awards banquet.
The contest has been ongoing for more than 50 years. Visit www.ncga.com for the full list of this year’s national and state winners.
