A challenging growing season proved to be no match for the 12 Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) members who won top state honors in the National Corn Growers Association's (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 47th year and remains NCGA's most popular program for members. With 8,425 entries, the 2011National Corn Yield Contest once again set a new participation record. Nationally, the number of entrants increased by 18% over 2010 and an incredible 70% over 2007 participant numbers. Michigan had more than 300 growers who faced the year's challenges head-on to participate in the contest. Once again, entrants far exceeded the average state corn yield of 148 bushels per acre, with the 12 winning entries averaging 257.6 bushels per acre

Supported by the NCGA, the National Corn Yield Contest allows NCGA members from 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 2011 National Corn Yield Contest went to:

Non-IrrigatedClass

First place–Phil Powers of Pinconning, with 261.6 bushels an acre.

Second place–Dick Suwyn of Caledonia, with 254.4 bushels an acre.

Third place–Vic Wolfert of Zeeland, with 250.5 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip-Till Irrigated Class

First place–Landis Farms of Schoolcraft, with 248.0 bushels an acre.

Second place–Old Pike Farms of Holland, with 247.5 bushels an acre.

Third place–McKenzie Farms of Marcellus, with 245.1 bushels an acre.

No-Till/Strip Till Non-IrrigatedClass

First place–Deborah Ferguson of Allenton, with 265.7 bushels an acre.

Second place–Ward in Brothers of Hemlock, with 249.9 bushels an acre.

Third place–Jay Ferguson of BrownCity, with 235.6 bushels an acre.

IrrigatedClass

First place–Don Stall of Charlotte, with 299.7 bushels an acre.

Second place–Drozd Farms of Allegan, with 270.0 bushels an acre.

Third place–Stamp Farms of Decatur, with 263.1 bushels an acre.

"The 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 (MCGA) executive director. "We congratulate this year's state winners on a job well done!"

Michigan's 2011 Corn Yield Contest winners will be honored at the MCGA Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing.