NCGA News














FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Mimi Ricketts (NCGA) 636-733-9004

27 Corn Growers from 14 States Take NCGA National Corn Yield Contest Honors

(ST. LOUIS) December 16, 2003 -- Twenty-seven corn growers from 14 states surpassed 3,601 entrants to emerge as national winners of the 2003 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC).

The 2003 contest drew entries from 47 states and proved to be one of the best ever in its 38-year history. “Despite unfavorable conditions throughout much of the nation, this year’s contest is the second largest ever,” said NCGA President Dee Vaughan, noting the record of 3,679 was set in 1996.

While there is no one overall winner in the NCYC, the resulting top yields of farmers who placed first, second and third nationally in the respective categories ranged from 321.8402 bushels per acre by David Hula in Charles City, Va., to 229.9746 by Elwin Tanner in Union City, Tenn.

“This was a very strange year in terms of weather and growing conditions,” said Vaughan, a grower from Dumas, Texas. “While some areas experienced severe drought, others benefited from ideal wet and cool conditions. Other states fell somewhere in between. And despite these conditions, our growers proved once again their ability to excel regardless of the conditions.”

He noted that, each year producers use the NCYC to improve their operations through the unparalleled opportunity to compare their own proven corn production capabilities with farmers in their states and across the country.

“The Corn Yield Contest offers a chance to highlight competition among our growers to strive for excellence and get the most they can per acre,” said Vaughan, “plus it’s an opportunity for them to learn some cultural practices that some growers have seen success with and have an opportunity to use those practices in the future. It’s also a great tool for membership and recruitment.”

State yield contest winners will be honored at a breakfast and national winners during an awards banquet at Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of NCGA and the American Soybean Association, March 2-4, 2004, in Las Vegas. For a complete list of winners and for more information about the NCYC, visit the NCGA web site at: www.ncga.com.

Following are the 27 national winners by class:

Legend for Winners:

WINNER NAME
WINNER CITY, FIELD STATE, MEMBER STATE
HYBRID BRAND, HYBRID NUMBER
YIELD PER BUSHELS

A NON-IRRIGATED CLASS

Schwenke Bros
Union, KY, KY
Pioneer 31N27
296.9369 bushels per acre

J M Souza Farms, Inc.
Lodi, CA, CA
Pioneer, 31N27
268.5948 bushels per acre

Bickett Farms
Central City, KY, KY
Pioneer, 33P67
262.1028 bushels per acre

AA NON-IRRIGATED

Robert Little
Hebron, IN, IN
Pioneer, 34B97
273.9412 bushels per acre

Dean Booth
Cuba City, WI, WI
DEKALB, DKC58-78
268.5184 bushels per acre

J & M Farms
Scott City, MO, MO
Pioneer, 32W86
266.5909 bushels per acre

A NO TILL/STRIP TILL NON-IRRIGATED

David K. Hula
Charles City, VA, VA
Pioneer, 33M54
321.8402 bushels per acre

Johnny Hula
Charles City, VA, VA
Pioneer, 3245
272.0498 bushels per acre

David Hunt
Bowling Green, KY, KY
Pioneer, 34B24
252.8197 bushels per acre

AA NO TILL/STRIP TILL NON-IRRIGATED

M & B Farms
Scott City, MO, MO
Pioneer, 33P67
284.3856 bushels per acre

Jeff Mezera
Bagley, WI, WI
Pioneer, 34N44
272.8824 bushels per acre

Kaitlyn Hoerr
Quincy, MO, MO
CROW’S, 5360
268.3622 bushels per acre

NO TILL/STRIP TILL IRRIGATED

Chad Yaw
Imperial, NE, NE
Great Lakes, 6148RR
314.2645 bushels per acre

Ute Mountain Farm & Ranch Enterprise
Towaoc, CO, CO
Pioneer, 33R77
305.6318 bushels per acre

Hawman Farms Inc.
Hermiston, OR, OR
Pioneer, 34N43
290.807 bushels per acre

A RIDGE TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Griffith Farms
Mayfield, KY, KY
Great Lakes, 6631Bt
235.5028 bushels per acre

Sullivan Farms
Burdette, AR, AR
Pioneer, 34B24
231.5843 bushels per acre

Elwin Tanner
Union City, TN, TN
Pioneer, 32D99
229.9746 bushels per acre

AA RIDGE TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Jerry Cox
Delta, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31N27
271.1138 bushels per acre

Hardy Bros. Dairy Farms
Roanoke, IN, IN
Garst, 84501T
248.774 bushels per acre

C & G Farms
Chaffee, MO, MO
Pioneer, 32P76
248.2412 bushels per acre

RIDGE TILL IRRIGATED

Matt Peterson
Bertrand, NE, NE
Pioneer, 33P67
284.8387 bushels per acre

Bill Wright
Walsh, CO, CO
Pioneer, 33B51
282.7581 bushels per acre

J & J Farms
Delta, MO, MO
Pioneer, 32P76
282.5437 bushels per acre

IRRIGATED

Donny Carpenter
Dimmitt, TX, TX
Pioneer, 33B51
314.793 bushels per acre

Bruce McDaniel
Clayton, NM, NM
Pioneer, 33B51
310.1155 bushels per acre

E & H Farms
Dixon, CA, CA
Pioneer, 31N27
301.1739 bushels per acre

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The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn’s profitability and usage. NCGA represents more than 33,000 members, 25 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.



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