WASHINGTON, D.C. — Entries are being accepted for the first National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) in more than 20 years. The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) announced the official contest rules and opened registration on its website.

Hugh Whaley, director of corporate relations for the National Assoc. of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and NWF, said records indicate the last contest was conducted in 1993, after operating for three years.

"Since none of our current staff or grower leadership was present during that era, we can only speculate as to why it did not continue beyond 1993," he said.

The competition, unveiled at the 2015 Commodity Classic, is made possible by the support of NWYC industry category partners BASF, Monsanto, John Deere and Winfield.

"The contest was reestablished by the National Wheat Foundation to help encourage growth in the U.S. wheat industry," Whaley said. "The goals of the NWYC are to help enhance the quality and quantity of the U.S. wheat crop, and to showcase U.S. wheat growers’ ability to produce the best quality wheat in the world.

"The contest’s objectives are to drive innovation in the industry, enable knowledge transfer between growers, encourage the use of available technology and identify the top U.S. wheat growers."

Growers can compete in two primary categories – winter and spring wheat. There will be two subcategories for each category, of dry land and irrigated production. Entrants must be a producer, at least 14 years of age and a member of their recognized state wheat grower association, or if from a state without a recognized organization, a member of NAWG.

All entries must use certified or branded, and currently commercially available, wheat seed.

Early registration deadlines are April 1 for winter wheat and June 15 for spring wheat. The entry fee for early registration is $100 per seed entry. After the early registration deadline, the entry fee is $125 per entry.

All entry forms and contest fees must be entered online by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on May 1, 2016, for winter wheat or Aug. 1 for spring wheat, to be eligible. Five national winners will be recognized in each category and subcategory at the 2017 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.

"We have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the National Wheat Yield Contest and look forward to U.S. wheat farmers competing with the best available technology," said NWF Chair Dusty Tallman, a wheat grower from Brandon, Colo.

For full contest rules and to enter, visit the NWF website at www.wheatfoundation.org and click on the contest "button" on the homepage.