NCGA Announces Corn Yield Contest Winners
Advanced production techniques, informed growing practices and improved seed varieties helped corn growers achieve high yields in the National Corn Growers Association 2009 National Corn Yield Contest. Despite the challenging weather conditions that plagued the Corn Belt throughout the year, entrants continued to far surpass the national average corn yield, even doubling it in some circumstances.
The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 45th year and remains NCGA's most popular program for members. This year, NCGA has processed 6,960 entries - a 3.5 percent increase over 2008 (6,727 entries) and 41 percent increase over 2007 (4,932 entries).
"Again this year, we are excited and pleased looking at the yields achieved by our growers," said Steve Ebke, chair of NCGA's Production and Stewardship Action Team. "This contest highlights how, through scientific advances and grower innovation, we can meet growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber."
The 24 winners in eight production categories had verified yields averaging more than 300 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 162.9 bushels per acre.
While there is no overall contest winner, yields from first, second and third place farmers overall production categories ranged from 287.0744 to 346.0156 bushels per acre.
"It was great to see both veteran growers and new faces among the list of entrants," said Tim Dolan, chairman of NCGA's Grower Services Action Team. "This program has always been one of the most popular member benefits we offer, and it continually provides growers a chance to celebrate success and learn better growing methods."
The national and state contest winners will be honored at the 2010 Commodity Classic. Contest winners will also be featured in a special edition of Farm Journal magazine.
Click here for the national winners.
Please click here to listen to the first edition of the new NCGA podcast series, "Off the Cob." This installment features an interview with grower leader Pam Johnson on the Maize Genome Sequencing Project.
NCGA Participates in Climate Change Summit
 Throughout this week, NCGA President Darrin Ihnen and Director of Public Policy Rod Snyder are attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. NCGA is an officially recognized observer organization at the conference.
"The conference this week has given us the opportunity to focus on the multiple challenges facing modern agriculture pertaining to climate change policy both domestically and internationally," NCGA President Darrin Ihnen said. "We have also had the opportunity to have a one-on-one meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to discuss our grower members' interest in this issue and believe the discussion was very worthwhile."
Secretary Vilsack was also the keynote speaker at Ag Day at the University of Copenhagen and touched on such issues as food productivity, climate resilience and greenhouse gas mitigation. NCGA participants will also be meeting with members of the U.S. delegation in Copenhagen including House and Senate staff as well as representatives from the USDA throughout the rest of the conference.
"Cruise to Success" at the 2010 Commodity Classic
 The Commodity Classic experience will provide corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers with an opportunity to "cruise to success," in Anaheim, Calif., March 4-6, 2010. Commodity Classic is an annual event that makes it possible for growers to reap the benefits of top-notch educational seminars and a highly-praised trade show. The Commodity Classic experience offers lasting benefits for a farmer's business operation.
Growers at the 2010 Commodity Classic are sure to benefit from the value of attending a trade show with almost 800 booths representing the equipment, technology, products and services of today's leading agricultural businesses and organizations.
"Attendees at this year's Commodity Classic can take advantage of some wonderful educational opportunities," said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Cal Dalton. "We've planned a full agenda of targeted programs so participants can make the most of their trip.
NCGA Encourages Monitoring of Stored Corn
A wet growing season along with lower than normal temperatures has resulted in ideal conditions for the development of mycotoxins in corn, according to Peter Thomison, a corn Extension Agronomist with Ohio State University. As a result, farmers are encouraged to assess crop quality and implement an aggressive management plan for corn to be stored on farm through the winter.
Corn growers who are in one of the hot spots that are affected are encouraged to:
· Dry corn to appropriate moisture level and if it will be stored longer term dry to 13-14% moisture.
· Test rather than relying on a visual assessment if you are in an area with problems.
· Clean effected grain to remove foreign material like cobs, fines and broken corn.
· Monitor corn in storage regularly and take appropriate steps.
· Monitor corn and Distillers Dried Grains (DDGS) if they will be fed to livestock which are susceptible to certain mycotoxins.
Harvest Continues Slow March to Completion
Farmers continue to work well into December as they trudge toward completion of the slowest harvest in 35 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that while some areas are either complete or approaching completion, many others still have corn in the fields.
Click here for harvest progress details.
During the week ending December 11, the national corn harvest moved only 4 percentage points closer to completion, a 4.5 percent increase from the previous week. Nationwide, the corn harvest is now roughly 92 percent complete. This lags behind the 5-year average of almost 100 percent at this time in December.
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This Week's NCGA Blog Highlights
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PROFILES IN AG LEADERSHIP |
Small Efforts Have a Way of Growing
Every Friday, NCGA features a profile of one of our country's corn farmers that provides a look the future of agricultural leadership. Today, we meet Today, we meet Brian Smith, a South Dakota corn farmer focused on service and promoting the understanding of his profession.
 When he first entered 4-H in elementary school, Brian Smith was not aware that this simple activity would put him on a path that led him into statewide agricultural leadership before his thirtieth birthday.
But, it did. From a young boy involved in 4-H and his local church youth group, Smith matured into an involved college student. During those formative years, he served on the Greek Council and as a member of Alpha Gamma Rho while maintaining involvement with local livestock exhibitions.
Click here for the whole story. |
