An area corn grower Kevin Murphy has been named a state winner in the 2003 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC), sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

Murphy of Jennings, placed first in the state in the Ridge Till Irrigated class with a yield of 145.8448 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was DeKalb DKC69-71RR/YG.

The local operation was one of 511 state winners nationwide. The 2003 contest, which included nine different classes, had a total of 3,601 entries from 47 states, proving to be one of the ever in the contest’s 38-year history. The top yield in the contest was 321.8402 bushels per acre, produced in the A No Till Non-Irrigated Class by a grower in Charles City, VA.



“This year’s contest once again gave corn producers the opportunity to improve their operations by getting a unique chance to compare their own proven corn production capabilities with farmers in their own state and across the country,” stated NCGA President Dee Vaughn.



This was a very strange year in terms of weather and growing conditions. Some areas experienced severe drought, others benefited from ideal wet and cool conditions and despite these conditions, growers proved once again their ability to excel regardless of the conditions.



The average yields ranged from 184 bushels per acre in the A Ridge Till Non-Irrigated Class to 229 bushels per acre in the Irrigated Class. Average yield of all winners was 219.10 bushels per acre; average yield of all entrants was 208.9.



Sixty-five different seed companies participated in the contest. The 511 state winners reported using 169 different hybrids.



The winners were recognized at the 2004 commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of the NCGA and the American Soybean Association, held in Las Vegas. For a complete list of winners and more and more information about the NCYC, visit the NCGA Web site at http://www.ncga.com/03profits/CYC/main/index.html.