Texas corn growers are among 27 national winners in the 2005 National Corn Yield Contest, sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association.

The top yield in the contest was 351.68 bushels per acre, produced by Steve Albracht of Hart, in the irrigated class. Eleven contestants, including all three national winners in the AA non-irrigated and irrigated classes, recorded yields exceeding 300 bushels per acre. The average yield among all winners in the contest was 288 bushels per acre.

The winners were recognized recently at the 2006 Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of NCGA and the American Soybean Association, held in Anaheim, Calif.

Don Carpenter of Dimmitt placed first in the no till/strip till irrigated class with a yield of 311.7813 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 33B51.

Donny Carpenter, also from Dimmitt, placed second in the nation in the no-till/strip till irrigated class with a yield of 296.2879 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was Pioneer 33B51.

Three places are awarded within each of nine classes in the national competition. The 27 national winners represented 12 different states.

The 2005 contest had a total of 2,997 entries from 47 states, and showcased 561 different hybrids from 71 seed companies.

“We were excited to see our growers, who are becoming increasingly efficient and adaptable, try innovative methods,” said NCGA President Gerald Tumbleson, a corn grower from Sherburn, Minn. “This contest allows growers to show off their production skills and measure themselves against growers in their area or other growers using the same farming techniques.”

Farmers are encouraged through the contest to utilize new, efficient production techniques. A summary of agronomic data gleaned from the contest shows the following:

• Average plant population for winning entrants was 39,192 plants per acre; average harvest population was 38,067, compared to 31,177 for all entrants.

• Winners applied an average of 282.8 pounds of nitrogen, 60.1 pounds of phosphorus and 60.5 pounds of potassium per acre.

• 11.1 percent of winners applied nitrogen in the fall, 55.6 percent spring pre-plant, 66.7 percent at planting and 40.1 percent side-dressed.

• Average commercial nitrogen use per bushel of yield was .98 pounds for winning entrants.

• 19.8 percent of all entrants applied trace minerals, compared to 63 percent of the winners.

• 66.7 percent of winners applied manure, compared to only 8.5 percent of all entrants.

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

The National Corn Growers Association represents more than 33,000 members, 45 affiliated state corn grower and checkoff organizations, and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.