David Hula Hit Another New Record Corn Yield With 623 BPA, Now Thinks 900 BPA Is Possible
AgDay 12/15/23 - David Hula New National Yield
A corn grower from Virginia is the reigning National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest champ, hitting a new national record yield of 623.8439 bu. per acre. David Hula, who's known for growing big yields, beat his previous record set in 2019.
In 2019, the Charles City, Va., farmer set a national yield record at 616.8439 bu. per acre, and four years later, he moved the needle once again. Hula's win marks his 12th national high-yield victory and his fifth world corn yield record.
Just how much more yield potential does Hula think is out there? If you ask him, he’ll tell you farmers might just be scratching the surface.
“I used to think it was 500 [bu. per acre], and then Randy Dowdy broke 500. Then we saw 600 [bu. per acre],” Hula told Farm Journal at the 2023 Commodity Classic.
Related Story: Young Farmer Breaks Soybean World Record With Stunning 206-Bushel Yield
Hula said when he harvested the record yield in 2019, some spots in the field reached 700 bu. per acre. Still, he thinks the yield potential is even higher than that.
“I do believe the corn genetic potential is probably in that 900-bushel [per acre] range,” Hula says. “Think about it, if that's the genetic potential, and USDA forecasts the country’s national average to be 180 to 181 bushels [per acre], we, as growers, have a big gap to fill.”
Hula's most recent corn yield victory came with a Pioneer corn hybrid. As a proponent of minimal tillage practices, such as strip tillage, he's found success with some biologicals. Hula likes to use products, such as Excavator by Meristem, that help break down residue while also releasing much-needed nutrients in the soil to help feed to crop.
“As a corn grower, the No. 1 focus is to get corn to come up uniformly,” Hula says. “We all think about what hybrids to choose, but we still have to get that corn to come up uniformly. Strip-till allows us to get that soil zone in good condition.”
Related Story: Randy Dowdy Smashes Soybean Yield Record, Busts 190 Bu.
Another benefit of minimal tillage combined with a biological has been the reduction in the amount of fertilizer he needs to apply.
“We can cut back 40% and have the same effect as if we were to broadcast 100%,” Hula explains. “Better stands and more efficient use of our fertilizer is a win-win.”
Hula’s advice for growers who are also striving to break yield barriers on their own farm is two-fold.
“Have a positive attitude, and be willing to make that change,” he says. “As growers, we get into the mindset of wanting to do same thing. Be open-minded to try something, whether it’s new products or a new technique on your operation. If a grower can change one thing each year, just try it and then compare it to what you were doing before. You’ll see continued success over time.”
NCGA has hosted its National Corn Yield Contest for 59 years. This year, NCGA reported nearly 7,000 entries from 46 states.
