The early entry deadline for the 2007 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) is only a week away, reminds the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). Entries must be postmarked by next Monday, July 2, to take advantage of the early bird entry fee of $75. After July 1, the entry fee goes up to $105.
“By entering before next week, producers can save $30 per entry,” said Max Starbuck, NCGA director of production and stewardship. “This year, we’ve put the entry form online to make things that much easier.”
Corn growers have two ways to enter this year’s contest. Contestants may fill out a form online on NCGA’s Web site and mail it, or register online. More details are available by clicking here.

There are nine categories for growers:

• A Non-irrigated class
• AA Non-irrigated class
• A No Till/Strip Till Non-irrigated
• AA No Till/Strip Till Irrigated
• No Till/Strip Till Non-irrigated
• A Ridge Till Non-irrigated
• AA Ridge Till Non-irrigated
• Ridge Till Irrigated
• Irrigated

Class AA includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Class A is for all other states. No-till irrigated, ridge-till irrigated and irrigated classes comprise all states.

The NCYC is the largest agricultural production contest in the United States. In 2006, 3,157 growers from 46 states competed in nine categories. The national NCYC winners are honored each year at the Commodity Classic, the combined convention and trade show of NCGA, the American Soybean Association and the National Association of Wheat Growers.

The average yield of all participants in last year’s contest was 216.67 bu./acre, compared to the national yield average of 149.1 bu./acre.