Winners of the 2023 National Wheat Yield Contest hailed from 28 states. With 24 national winners and 83 state winners, growers from across the country showed resiliency and excellence in their wheat crops. Even during times of drought, the contest winners shared a 127-bushel-per-acre average.

The yield contest helps illustrate the importance of variety selection and input management in wheat to achieve outstanding performance, while demonstrating the innovative agronomics and productivity of wheat growers across the country.

“It is exciting to see the potential when the genetics, management, and environment are all aligned in the wheat grower’s favor,” says Bernard Peterson, chairman of the National Wheat Foundation and a Kentucky farmer.

While winners hailed from across the nation, Dakota farmers still made their way to the top. Brad Disrud of Rolla, N.D., won in the category Bin Buster in Spring Wheat – Dryland with 129.98 bushels per acre, planting WestBred WB9590.

Three of the four Bin Buster awards were growers who planted WestBred varieties. “Our goal at WestBred Wheat is to bring growers wheat genetics that consistently allow them to seize the season,” says Jeff Koscelny, cereals account management lead at Bayer.

Growers who take home national titles are honored with a trip to Commodity Classic in February.

Dakotas’ state winners

State winners from North and South Dakota, along with their winning yield in bushels per acre, are:  

Winter wheat, dryland

Spring wheat, dryland

Spring wheat, irrigated

The National Wheat Foundation contributed to this article.