Colorado Corn Cultivating Opportunities

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) urges its members to enter the 2008 National Corn Yield Contest. The entry form, with revised rules, is now posted online and a discount is offered those whose entry forms are postmarked by July 1.

Last year, nearly 5,000 entries were received for the contest, and 529 state and national winners in nine categories celebrated yields averaging 237.1 bushels per acre – a significant increase on the overall national average in 2007 of 151.1 bushels per acre, noted NCGA officials.

“We’re excited about this program because it gives our members a chance to celebrate their hard work, and show what the American farmer can do,” said David Ward, chairman of NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team. “We’re committed to growing enough corn to meet all needs and we challenge our members to beat the 2007 numbers – whether in number of entries or number of bushels grown per acre – and in an environmentally friendly manner, with less nitrogen per bushel.”

Ward said there are some changes to the 2008 rules, and entrants need to pay close attention particularly to the changes pertaining to supervisors who check or recheck the counts. For example, if two supervisors complete the initial check, a recheck is not required for yields less than 300 bushels per acre; whereas initial checks completed by one supervisor requires a recheck at 250 bushels per acre. Also, one supervisor that completed the initial check may be approved or assigned by NCGA to be one of the two supervisors completing a recheck.