By Staff
ST. LOUIS – A local corn grower has been honored as a Michigan winner in the 2006 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
Jerry Bement of Dowagiac placed first in the state in the No Till/Strip Till Irrigated Class with a yield of 225.2756 bushels per acre.
The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 33A84.
Bement was one of 504 state winners nationwide.
The contest, which includes nine classes, had a total of 3,154 entries from 46 states.
Of the 504 state winners, 27 growers, or three from each class, were named national winners. The national winners represented 11 states.
The average yield among all winners was 287 bushels per acre, significantly higher than the average yield of 217 bushels per acre for all entrants and the 2006 U.S. average of 149.1 bushels per acre.
NCGA President Ken McCauley, a corn grower from White Cloud, Kan., commented, "Over the years, contestants have shown how to increase yields through better planting techniques, more precise fertilizer application and improved seed selection. We have worked to help corn growers achieve higher yields on fewer acres, with fewer inputs and lower costs, while conserving resources and protecting the environment. This year's top yield of 347.3 bushels per acre was achieved by Kip Cullers, of Purdy, Mo., in the No Till/Strip Till Irrigated Class.