IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For information contact:   

Mimi Ricketts, NCGA, (636)733 9004, Ext. 112
Max Starbuck, NCGA (636) 733-9004, Ext. 106

NCGA Names National Corn Yield Contest Winners

ST. LOUIS (December 18, 2006) -- Corn growers combined innovative production techniques with improved seed varieties to achieve top numbers in the National Corn Grower Association (NCGA) 2006 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC).

“This year we had winners from such non-traditional areas as Idaho and Utah,” notes NCGA President Ken McCauley. “That shows that growers can meet the challenge of increasing demand.” This year’s contest drew 3,157 entrants from 44 states.

The 27 winners in nine production categories had verified yields of more than 240 bushels per acre, compared to the national average of 151.2 bushels per acre. Seven winners posted yields of more than 300 bushels per acre. “Poor weather at harvest time lowered yields from some areas in the Midwest, but that’s part of the challenges that all farmers meet,” says McCauley. “The biggest benefit of the NCYC is the opportunity to test production techniques and seed hybrids in real-world conditions.”

While there is no overall winner in the NCYC, yields of farmers who placed first, second and third in their production categories ranged from 240.9675 by Tanner Farms of Union City, Tenn., to 347.2698 from Kip Cullers of Purdy, Mo.

The national and state NCYC winners will be honored at the 2007 Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of NCGA, the American Soybean Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers, March 1-3 in Tampa, Fla. Contest winners will also be featured in a special edition of Farm Journal magazine. This year’s guide is sponsored by BASF, Bayer CropScience and Deere & Company.

For more information and a complete national winners, visit www.ncga.com. Following are the 27 national winners by class:

Legend for Winners:

Winner Name
Winner Home City, State Where Field Is Located, Home State
Hybrid Brand and Number
Yield

Note: Class AA categories include the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Class A categories include all other states.

A NON-IRRIGATED CLASS

Francis Childs
Falls City, NE, NE
Pioneer, 31G68
294.4882 Bushels Per Acre

Seven Springs Farms
Cadiz, KY, KY
Pioneer, 33M53
277.7896 Bushels Per Acre

Seven Springs Farms
Cadiz, KY, KY
Pioneer, 33M53
272.9541 Bushels Per Acre

AA NON-IRRIGATED

Mez-Farm
Bagley, WI, WI
DEKALB, DKC61-68
297.1261 Bushels Per Acre

Jeff Mezera
Bagley, WI, WI
Pioneer, 34N42
284.7497 Bushels Per Acre

Leland A. Esser
Glen Haven, WI, WI
Pioneer, 34A16
274.3804 Bushels Per Acre

A NO TILL/STRIP TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Tim Bishop
Queenstown, MD, MD
Campbell, 7700R2
279.1529 Bushels Per Acre

Schwenke Bros.
Union, KY, KY
Pioneer, 31N28
274.0433 Bushels Per Acre

J & D Doub Farms
East Bend, NC, NC
Pioneer, 31N28
268.9535 Bushels Per Acre

AA NO TILL/STRIP TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Mezera Farms 1
Bagley, WI, WI
Pioneer, 34N42
295.9499 Bushels Per Acre

Mezera Farms
Bagley, WI, WI
Pioneer, 34A16
282.2462 Bushels Per Acre

M & B Farms
Scott City, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31N28
269.958 Bushels Per Acre

NO TILL/STRIP TILL IRRIGATED

Kip Cullers
Purdy, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31N28
347.2698 Bushels Per Acre

Kip Cullers
Purdy, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31P41
338.238 Bushels Per Acre

Buckley Farms
Dimmitt, TX, TX
Pioneer, 33B51
311.0258 Bushels Per Acre

A RIDGE TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Blane Anthony
Talmage, NE, NE
Pioneer, 33R78
250.7857 Bushels Per Acre

Flaggy Run Farms LLC
Courtland, VA, VA
Garst, 8292YG1
248.7075 Bushels Per Acre

Tanner Farms
Union City, TN, TN
Pioneer, 31N28
240.9675 Bushels Per Acre

AA RIDGE TILL NON-IRRIGATED

Jerry Cox
Delta, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31N28
270.2015 Bushels Per Acre

Glenda H. Hinkebein
Chaffee, MO, MO
Pioneer, 33M54
266.8732 Bushels Per Acre

Matthew Cox
Scott City, MO, MO
Pioneer, 31D58
265.1614 Bushels Per Acre

RIDGE TILL IRRIGATED

Steven Albracht
Hart, TX, TX
Pioneer, 33B51
319.7617 Bushels Per Acre

Kip Cullers
Purdy, MO, MO
Pioneer, 33N59
297.711 Bushels Per Acre

Charles W. Hinkebein
Chaffee, MO, MO
Asgrow, RX785RR2/YGCB
286.8392 Bushels Per Acre

IRRIGATED

K-K Farms #2
Purdy, MO, MO
Pioneer, 32B29
332.7733 Bushels Per Acre

Bernard Nelson
Tremonton, UT, UT
Pioneer, 34A15
303.0739 Bushels Per Acre

Kevin J. Weilmunster
Parma, ID, ID
Pioneer, 34N43
300.3791 Bushels Per Acre

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The National Corn Growers Association’s mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members, 45 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For more information, log on to www.ncga.com.