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Kentucky corn growers win yield contest honor

By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Growing corn is big business and farmers in Kentucky are right in the thick of things as proven during the 2007 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC), sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA).

Kentucky producers were recognized during the competition which featured a record 4,932 growers from 46 states.

The contest consists of nine classes and, in the national competition with the top three receiving awards in each class. The 27 national winners represented 12 states.

Those from Kentucky included Phillip L Castlen of Owensboro, Darrell Hagan of Whitesville, Paul Bickett of Central City and Phil, Pat and Joe Thompson of Owensboro.

Castlen placed second in the A No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 275.9974 bushels per acre; Hagan finished third in the A Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 274.8402 bushels per acre; Bickett placed second in the A Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 291.5654 bushels per acre and the Thompson’s came in first in the nation in the A No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Class with a yield of 297.0972 bushels per acre.

The average yield among national winners was 298.7 bushels per acre – greater than the 218.6 bushels per acre average for all entrants, and more than the 2007 U.S. average of 151.1 bushels per acre. Twenty-four entrants recorded yields of 300 bushels or more per acre.

“We’d never reached that plateau before,” said Phil Thompson of their first-time national winning yield. “I’m kind of in awe of it. “I’m amazed. It’s kind of a shock to win a division in national. It was kind of dry, but we had the right population of corn per acre, and we had timely rains when the corn needed it.”

NCGA President Ron Litterer, a corn grower from Greene, Iowa said, “Every year as we tally the NCYC entries, we are overwhelmed by the results. They are a demonstration of commitment and innovation on the part of U.S. corn producers, and 2007 was no exception.”

Castlen said after dodging last year’s Easter freeze, his yields were some of the best ever. “It was a real surprise that we ended up with the best corn crop we ever had,” he said.

Hagan’s crop didn’t escape the freeze damage and had to be replanted which was followed by a dry summer leaving him to believe he didn’t have a very good crop. “It was a very hot summer, and for the most part dry. But for some reason when we needed a rain, somehow or another we got a rain,” he said.
Bickett credited his timely use of fungicide as the difference in yields last year.

“We take soil tests every two years and try to keep soils all right,” he said. “It must have been the fungicide. We didn’t do anything different as far as fertility. This year, (the fungicide) made a world of difference.”

Litterer added, “This past year was a record-breaker for the corn industry overall, not just the 529 winners. More than 13 billion bushels were harvested, exports set a record and the average yield was one of the highest witnessed.”

The top yield honors went to David Hula of Charles City, Va. with 385.5861 bushels per acre.

The NCYC began in 1965 with 20 entries from three states. The 2007 winners were recognized Feb. 29 at the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn. A complete list of winners and for more information about NCYC can be found at the NCGA website at www.ncga.com

4/2/2008