Albion farmer tops again in NY corn yield contest

Provided photo: Adam Kirby holds the trophy for winning the 2019 corn yield contest in New York. He won the 2020 yield contest in the conventional irrigated category in NY.

ALBION – Adam Kirby again is on top of the corn yield contest in New York. Kirby won the contest in 2019 with a 277.0 bushel yield in the strip till, non-irrigated category.

He won another category in 2020 with a 271.8 bushel yield in the conventional irrigated category. Kirby used a Pioneer seed, P1197AM, for the winning entry.

He also was second in the strip, min, mulch, ridge-till non-irrigated category with a 273.6 yield. That was just behind Andrew Mcllroy of Pavilion at 273.8 bushels. Kirby used a Pioneer seed, P0720AM, for this entry.

Other New York winners in other categories include: conventional non-irrigated, Henry Everman of Danville at 299.8 bushels; no-till non-irrigated, Craig Phelps of Groveland at 239.2 bushels; strip, min, mulch, ridge-till irrigated, Tom Jeffres of Wyoming at 286.7 bushels.

The National Corn Growers Association announced the results of the contest last month.

Don Stall of Charlotte, Mich., produced the highest yield in the contest with a yield of 476.9 bushels per acre. That was in the conventional irrigated category.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 56th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members.

“This contest brings farmers together to create, innovate and explore ways to optimize the nation’s largest and arguably most important crop,” said Debbie Borg, chair of NCGA’s Member and Consumer Engagement Action Team. “At both the state and national levels, contest winners find new ways to excel while using a variety of techniques. Ultimately, the invention and improvement by farmers and input providers enable U.S. farmers to continue to meet the future demand for critical food, feed, fuel and fiber.”

Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies.

Winners are traditionally honored in March during Commodity Classic. With the convention moving to a virtual format in 2021, NCGA is working with sponsors to find an alternative means to recognize the accomplishments of yield contest winners.