This year proved to be a record-setter in many aspects for the National Corn Growers Association Corn Yield Contest. In a year beset with weather problems and late harvest, corn growers shattered records with a total of 6,960 entries from across the United States. The contest features 24 national winners in eight production categories with verified yields averaging more than 300 bushels per acre, compared to the USDA projected national average of 162.9 bushels per acre. Michigan had 300 growers who faced the year's challenges head-on to participate in the NCGA Corn Yield Contest.

Supported by the NCGA, the Corn Yield Contest allows NCGA members from all across the country to compete against one another in an attempt to achieve the greatest corn yields in various classes. Michigan's top honors in the 2009 National Corn Yield Contest went to:

Non-Irrigated Class

• First place – Jerry Kuehnlein of Monroe, with 249.8 bushels an acre.

• Second place – Mary Eickholt of Chesaning, with 248.9 bushels an acre.

• Third place – Jeff Hoeve of Holland, with 247.9 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated Class

• First place – David E. Eickholt of Chesaning, with 248.7 bushels an acre.

• Second place – Kreps Farms of Temperance, with 228.1 bushels an acre.

• Third place – Jim Smallegan of Hudsonville, with 225.4 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class

• First place – Morrell Stealy of Battle Creek, with 269.4 bushels an acre.

• Second place – Phil Crawford of Dowagiac, with 235.6 bushels an acre.

• Third place – Landis Farms of Schoolcraft, with 227.9 bushels an acre.

Ridge-Till Non-Irrigated Class

• First place – Charles Eickholt of Chesaning, with 239.9 bushels an acre.

• Second place – Brian Pincik of Corunna, with 187.2 bushels an acre.

• Third place – Jordan Pincik of Corunna, with 184.7 bushels an acre.

Ridge-Till Irrigated Class

• First place – David E. Eickholt of Chesaning, with 247.2 bushels an acre.

• Second place – David and Charles Eickholt of Chesaning, with 222.4 bushels an acre.

"The Corn Yield Contest is an opportunity for Michigan's corn growers to demonstrate their best production methods for the chance to win national recognition and see how they stack up against their neighbors in other states," says Jody Pollok-Newsom, Michigan Corn Growers Association executive director. "We congratulate this year's state winners on a job well done!"

Michigan's 2009 Corn Yield Contest winners will be honored at the MCGA Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.

Headquartered in Lansing, the MCGA is a grassroots-membership association representing the state's corn growers' political interests. Since the 1970s, the MCGA has been looking out for the state's corn growers and working to keep them on the cutting edge. The MCGA works cooperatively with the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan a legislatively-established program that utilizes one-cent per bushel of Michigan corn sold and invests in research, education, new uses and market development. For more information, visit the website of the MCGA and the CMPM at www.micorn.org.