Yield Contest winners honored at Kansas State Fair

Yield Contest winners Darwin Ediger, Darren Nelson and Doug Queen with Governor Brownback.

On September 17, Kansas Wheat honored the winners of the Kansas Wheat Yield Contest and the Wheat Quality Initiative Contest.

"We’re excited to recognize the winners of the 6th annual Kansas Wheat Yield Contest," said Kansas Wheat Commission Chairman Jay Armstrong. "This has been an especially great year for the contest, not only because we received the highest yield ever, but also because of the sheer amount of competition this year.

"We had more entrants this year with a number of very competitive yields. In fact, this is the first year we’ve had two out of the three winners reaching over 100 bushels an acre.  The yields that we’re recognizing today showcase how producers making good management decisions can have a record-breaking year even in the face of disease and adverse weather.

Armstrong continued, "Even at a time when commodity prices are low, producers should remember to implement best management practices in order to boost revenue per acre. And that revenue always starts with bushels."

This year’s top wheat yields belong to Darwin Ediger of Meade, Western Region winner; Darren Nelson of Hutchinson, Central Region winner; and Doug Queen of Rossville, Eastern Region winner. 

Nelson's plot was 8.756 acres planted with a T158 (Limagrain) /Everest (Kansas Wheat Alliance) blend. Nelson’s prize-winning yield was 108.48 bushels an acre.

Ediger planted his 6.48 acre plot with WB 4458 (WestBred) and saw a yield of 103.18 bushels per acre.

Queen’s winning plot was 11.94 acres planted with Armour (WestBred) and resulted in a yield of 70.3 bushels per acre.

The top quality award, announced by Governor Sam Brownback, was also awarded to Darwin Ediger.

The 2015 Kansas Wheat Yield Contest is sponsored by BASF, WestBred, Kansas Wheat Alliance, Limagrain, Plains Gold, AgriPro, ADM and Kansas Wheat. 

Agronomic Information

Western Region: Darwin Ediger
Date Planted: 9/23/2014
Variety Planted: WB 4458
Soil Fertility Info: Topdress - 89 pounds per acre UAN; liquid
                              15 pounds per acre+ Thiosol; Liquid

Central Region: Darren Nelson
Date Planted: 10/06/2014
Variety Planted: T158/Everest
Planting Rate: 82 pounds per acre
Soil Fertility Info: Planting - 100 pounds an acre of Micro-Essentials SZ; dry
                              Feekes 3 - 70-140 pounds an acre of Urea; dry
Herbicide Info:    Feekes 6 - 6 ounces per acre Sword MCPA
                              1 ounce per acre Affinity
Fungicide Info:    Feekes 6 - 4 ounces per acre Priaxor
                              Feekes 10 - 9 ounces per acre Twinline

Eastern Region: Doug Queen
Date Planted: 09/28/2014
Variety Planted: Armour
Planting Rate: 100 pounds per acre
Soil Fertility Info: Pre-plant - 100 pounds an acre of 18-49-0; dry
                              Topdress - 60 pounds N
Herbicide Info: Topdress - Finesse