The National Wheat Yield Contest will be conducted for the first time in 20 years, and winners will be announced nationally at the 2017 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The contest consists of two primary competition categories: winter and spring wheat. All state wheat organization grower-members are encouraged to participate.
“We are excited about the benefits this competition will bring to our nation’s wheat growers individually and to our country’s wheat industry collectively,” commented National Wheat Foundation (NWF) Chairman Dusty Tallman. “We anticipate many of our growers will participate, and we look forward to seeing the positive results this has on the wheat industry, especially when it comes to improving crop management practices on the farm.”
“BASF is pleased to partner with the National Wheat Foundation on the Wheat Yield Contest,” said Luke Lathan, product manager for wheat, BASF Corporation. “Lessons from this yield contest can help all wheat farmers with information about new innovations for production acres and sustainable farming practices.”
Through the contest, NWF is encouraging growers to achieve the best yields and quality from their crop, and highlight the sustainable practices America’s wheat farmers use every day to provide a consistently healthy product to the world. Tallman said U.S. wheat farmers use conservation efforts for the betterment of the environment and to maintain and improve farm productivity for future generations. Wheat growers participate in USDA conservation programs, reduce tillage and use crop rotations.
NWF hopes that by participating in the contest farmers will share knowledge to drive further innovation in sustainability for the entire industry.
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 seed entry. All completed entry forms and contest fees must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 1 for winter wheat or August 1 for spring wheat to be eligible to compete.
For full contest rules and to enter the 2015-16 National Wheat Yield Contest, go to the NWF website at wheatfoundation.org and click on the contest button on the home page.