Area residents placed in the state in the 2021 National Corn Yield Contest, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association.
Aaron Landes of Jamesport won first place in the Conventional Non-Irrigated Class with a field entry that yielded more than 321 bushels per acre. He used a hybrid from the Pioneer brand.
Jim Schreiner of Chillicothe placed third in the Conventional Non-Irrigated Class with a field entry that yielded more than 282 bushels per acre. He used a hybrid from the Dekalb brand.
Galt Porter of Mercer placed third in the Strip, Minimum, Mulch, Ridge-Till Non-Irrigated Class with a field entry that yielded more than 256 bushels per acre. He used a hybrid from the Pioneer brand.
There were 530 state winners nationwide. The 2021 contest included more than 7,200 entries from 47 states. Of the state winners, 27 growers—three from each of nine classes—were named national winners, representing 14 states.
The average yield among national winners was more than 376 bushels per acre, which was more than double the projected 2021 U. S. average of 177 bushels per acre. There is no overall contest winner, but yields from the first, second, and third place farmers’ overall production categories topped out at more than 269 bushels per acre.
Farmers are encouraged through the contest to use new, efficient production techniques.
The National Corn Yield Contest began in 1965 with 20 entries from three states. At that time, the highest overall yield was about 219 bushels per acre. The national yield average was in the mid-60 bushels per acre range.
All 2021 contest winners were invited to attend the 2022 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana this month.
