ST. LOUIS - A T&D Region corn grower has been honored as a state winner in the 2007 National Corn Yield Contest sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association.

C.W. Backman of Norway placed first in the state in the Irrigated Class with a yield of 308.2381 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 31N28.

The local grower was one of 529 state winners nationwide. The 2007 contest had a record 4,932 entries from 46 states. Of the state winners, 27 growers -- or three from each of nine classes -- were named national winners, representing 12 states.

The average yield among national winners was 298.7 bushels per acre -- greater than the 218.6 bushels per acre average for all entrants, and more than the 2007 U.S. average of 151.1 bushels per acre. Twenty-four entrants recorded yields of 300 bushels or more per acre.

Every year as we tally the NCYC entries, we are overwhelmed by the results, said NCGA President Ron Litterer, a corn grower from Greene, Iowa. They are a demonstration of commitment and innovation on the part of U.S. corn producers, and 2007 was no exception.

This past year was a record-breaker for the corn industry overall, not just the 529 winners. More than 13 billion bushels were harvested, exports set a record and the average yield was one of the highest witnessed, Litterer said. This years top yield of 385.5861 bushels per acre, achieved by David Hula of Charles City, Va., is a triumph of farming ability and technology.

Farmers are encouraged through the contest to utilize new, efficient production techniques.

Agronomic data gleaned from the contest reveal the following:

* Average plant population for the 27 national winners was 36,133 plants per acre, compared to 32,181 for all entrants.

* Winners applied an average of 228.4 pounds of nitrogen, 50.0 pounds of phosphorus and 73.4 pounds of potassium per acre.

* 11.1 percent of winners applied nitrogen in the fall, 48,2 percent spring preplant, 40.7 percent at planting and 62.9 percent side-dressed.

* Average commercial nitrogen use per bushel of yield was 0.7645 pounds for winners, and 0.8366 pounds for all entrants.

* 40.7 percent of the winners applied trace minerals, compared to 31.7 percent of all entrants.

* 22.2 percent of winners applied manure, compared to 31.7 percent of all entrants.

The National Corn Yield Contest began in 1965 with 20 entries from three states. The highest overall yield was 218.9 bushels per acre, while the national yield average was in the mid-60 bushel-per-acre range.

The winners were recognized Feb. 29 at the 2008 Commodity Classic -- the combined convention and trade show of NCGA, the American Soybean Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers -- held in Nashville, Tenn,

The National Corn Growers Association represents more than 32,000 members, 48 affiliated state corn grower and check off organizations, and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.

For a complete list of winners and for more information about NCYC, visit the NCGA Web site at www.ncga.com.

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