NCGA Calls for Entries to the 40th Anniversary National Corn Yield
Contest (4-25-05)
The 40th Anniversary
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest
(NCYC) is under way, with the initial deadline for entries set for
July 1. Every year, corn growers throughout the nation enter the
NCYC to demonstrate their production skills.
Rodney Moe,
chairman of the NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team, which
oversees the NCYC, said the contest's goal is to highlight the production
potential of corn. "Contest participants improve their operations
by getting a unique opportunity to compare their own proven corn
production capabilities with farmers in their states and across
the country," he said. "This contest also demonstrates
improvements in production methods while addressing environmental
concerns."
Last year,
3,383 growers from 44 states entered the contest. The resulting
top yields from farmers who placed first, second and third places
in the respective categories ranged from 339.5 to 248.7 bushels
per acre.
Once again,
NCGA has incorporated additional questions into the entry form regarding
entrants' non-contest corn production. Moe noted, "This limited
information will allow NCGA to demonstrate that its contest entrants
are not only outstanding farmers, but are committed stewards to
the land."
Moe said, using
a sports example, the Corn Yield Contest is similar to setting the
land speed record with a car. "Only a few people can actually
do it, but the rest of us are interested in the potential an automobile
has," he said, adding, “This is the contest’s 40th
anniversary year, so we’re looking forward to the best yet.”
Winners of
this year's NCYC will be announced Dec. 15 and honored at the 2006
Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of the
NCGA and the American Soybean Association (ASA), March 2-4 in Anaheim,
Calif. Along with national recognition, winners may receive prizes
from participating seed and crop protection companies.
Deadlines for
entries and fees are July 1, $70; and Aug. 1, $90. Entry forms can
be downloaded from the NCGA Web site, www.ncga.com.
More information is available by calling NCGA at 636-733-9004.