The National Corn Growers Association 2009 Corn Yield Guide is now available for download.

“The National Corn Yield Contest provides a glimpse at the practices and resultant yields that growers can expect to become the industry standard in the next decade,” says NCGA President Darrin Ihnen, a grower from Hurley, SD. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s winners and look forward to a future with even higher average yields that will ensure we can meet ever increasing demand.”

This year, Bill Walsh, a Colorado grower, achieved the highest yield nationally. Entering in the irrigated class, he planted Pioneer seeds and achieved a yield of 346.0156 bu./acre. The yields of national winners averaged 306.74 bu. with state winners averaging 242.82. The average yield of a contest entrant was 227.31, more than 37% higher than the USDA’s projected national average of 165.2.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 46th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members. This year, NCGA processed 6,958 entries – a 3.5% increase over 2008 (6,727 entries) and 41% increase over 2007 (4,932 entries). The contest provides growers with an opportunity to showcase their achievements while establishing innovative practices that benefit the industry as a whole.